Elsie Magdalene (Kanode) Donathan

Elsie Magdalene Donathan, age 96, of Jefferson, was called home by her heavenly Father on Sunday, October 6, 2019. She was surrounded in her home by her loving family.

She was a strong woman of faith, a daughter, a sister, a friend, a mother, a grandmother, a great grandmother and great-great grandmother.

Elsie was born in Lindside, West Virginia on August 22, 1923, the daughter of Dall and Beulah Kanode. She moved to the area, from West Virginia, in the 1950’s, raising her family in Jefferson.

She loved her garden and her flowers. Each year she could not wait to get her garden in, starting her seeds early on her kitchen counter. She said that canning was like heaven to her and she shared that love with her family. She always brought along a jar of her beans or pickles to every family gathering or made you take one when you stopped in for a visit. 

Her biggest love, though, was her family. She lit up each time someone walked in her door.  She always tried to offer them one of her plastic cross-stitched pieces or a plant that she had been growing on her porch or her famous jar of pickles, apple butter, or peaches. Her home was always a gathering place for her family. She prayed for them daily and loved them all fiercely.          

She is preceded in death by her parents, her beloved stepmother, Annie and eight siblings, her son James Curtis Donathan, her daughter-in-law, Jennifer Donathan, her grandsons, Rodney and Vincent Donathan and her granddaughter, Rebecca Lipstreu.

She is survived by her brother, James Kanode, of Rainelle, West Virginia, her children, Bobbie (Nancy) Donathan, of Eagleville, Juanita Adkins, Louie Donathan, Barbara Donathan, daughter-in-law Phylis Donathan all of Jefferson and her 84 grandchildren, great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren.

She was a life-long member of the Jefferson Church of the Nazarene. Per her wishes, in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Jefferson Church of the Nazarene.

Funeral services will be held Saturday at 2:00 PM at the Jefferson Church of the Nazarene, 55 E. Satin St., Jefferson with Pastor Curtis Cecil officiating.  Burial will be in Oakdale Cemetery.

Calling hours will be held Friday from 5-7 PM at the Jefferson Home of Fleming & Billman Funeral Directors and Crematory, 49 W. Jefferson St., Jefferson and Saturday from 1-2 PM at the church.  In lieu of flowers, Mrs. Donathan requested contributions to the Jefferson Church of the Nazarene (above address).  The Fleming & Billman Funeral Homes and staff are honored to serve the Elsie Donathan family, express condolences, view obituary or light a candle at fleming-billman.com.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Elsie Magdalene (Kanode) Donathan, please visit our floral store.