Donna Dee George (nee Wait) 83, of Natoma, Kansas, died on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, at Hays Med in Hays, Kansas.
Donna was born on October 15, 1942, in Codell, Kansas, to Walter and Dorothy (John) Wait. She grew up in Natoma, Kansas, and graduated from Natoma High School.
She attended Fort Hays University and graduated with a degree in education. She met, fell in love, and was united in marriage to David Arthur George on August 8, 1964, in Natoma, Kansas. From this union, David and Donna were blessed with four children, DeeAnn, Dennis, Dustin, and Denton. Donna taught and coached in Randall, Kansas.
When David was drafted into the United States Army in 1966, she followed him to Germany until they returned stateside in 1967. Donna taught in Jewell, Kansas, until moving to Lebanon, Kansas, where she took a hiatus from teaching for a few years while raising their children.
During these years, she also provided child care in her home. The family then moved to Beloit, Kansas, where Donna worked at a home for at-risk girls for a year.
The next several years, they lived in Chanute, Kansas, where Donna substituted and taught sixth grade. In 1984, the family moved home to Natoma, Kansas, where Donna taught in Paradise and Natoma, teaching science and social studies until her retirement in 2005.
She truly loved working with students and continued to substitute in local districts for many more years. Donna enjoyed reading, sewing, puzzles, and taking classes to keep her teaching certificate current and because she simply loved learning new skills. She especially loved spending time with her children and grandchildren. She attended many sporting events, dance recitals, cattle shows, etc., over the years.
Surviving family include daughter DeeAnn Heaton and husband Darren of Cuba, Missouri, sons Dennis George and wife Amy of Hays, Kansas, Dustin George and wife Carmen of Natoma, Kansas and Denton George and wife Jennifer of Phillipsburg, Kansas, seven grandkids Hannah Shaw and husband Cody of Rolla, Missouri, Tyler Heaton and wife Haley of Cedar Hill, Missouri, Haley Vajnar and husband Conrad, Emily George, Avry George, and Derek George all of Hays, Kansas, Erika Edwards and husband Hayden of Elkmont, Alabama and 3 great grandkids Wyatt Shaw, Mary May Vajnar, and Leo Vajnar. Brother Lynn Wait and wife Patti Wait of Frankfort, Kansas, sisters Marilyn Beeman and husband Billy of Hot Springs, South Dakota, Deeanna Baumgartner of Junction City, Kansas, and Jackie Baumgartner of Phillipsburg, Kansas. Numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, and good friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband, David George, and parents, Walter and Dorothy Wait.
Cremation was selected by the family, and a memorial service to celebrate Donna’s life will be at 11 A.M. on Monday, November 10, 2025, at the Paradise Gymnasium in Paradise, Kansas.
Family will greet guests on the day of the funeral service. Memorials may be given to the Lions Scholarship Fund and sent to the mortuary.
Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary of Russell, Kansas, is in charge of the funeral service arrangements.