Erlyn Marcene Donner Mattley passed from this life June 23, 2021, in Elk City, Oklahoma, at the age of 90 years, 10 months, and 14 days. Erlyn was born at home August 9, 1930, the youngest of four, to her parents, Vern and Nana (Johnson) Donner in Garfield County, Nebraska.
Erlyn grew up on the Cedar River north of Ericson, NE, and graduated from Burwell High School, received Normal Training and taught in a one room school for two years. She was quite the horsewoman and was a Nebraska’s Big Rodeo queen contestant in 1947. April 9, 1950, Erlyn was married to Dale Mattley in Burwell, NE, and five children were born to this union: Renetta, Rachel, Ronda, Ryan, and Renee’.
Dale and Erlyn operated a retail business in Burwell for 33 years, 1957-1990. Erlyn was a long time active member of Burwell’s First Christian Church where she taught Sunday School, was a member of the Worker’s Society, helped with funeral dinners, and many other activities of the church. Highlights of their life together were the trips they made to the Holy Land, the Philippines which included a side trip to Communist China and Hong Kong, to Donner Pass near Truckee, CA., and camping with the kids and grandkids at Lake McConaughy.
Survivors include her husband, Dale of the home; her children: Renetta and Kerry Hookstra, Sayre, OK; Rachel Dye, Tulsa, OK; Ronda Mattley, Nampa, ID; Ryan Mattley, Ft. Collins, CO; and Renee Johnson, Ft. Collins, CO; 11 grandchildren; and 14 great grandchildren.
Erlyn was preceded in death by her parents, two brothers and two sisters, and one grandchild.
A visitation and viewing is set for Thursday, July 1 from 5-8 p.m. at Domoney Funeral Home in Downs, KS. Graveside service will be held at Cottonwood Cemetery at Burwell, NE, 11:30 a.m., Friday, July 2.