Donnis Ester Allen Payton, age 92 of Prescott, Wis., passed away peacefully at Comforts Of Home Advanced Assisted Living in River Falls, Wis. on Aug. 31, 2023. Donnis was born on Nov. 24, 1930 in Orange County, Ind. to Theimer Allen and Ruby (Gilliatt) Allen. Growing up in rural southern Indiana, Donnis attended one-room country schools. She was a passionate and creative cook having started cooking at age 8 with her mother. Donnis married Lowell Payton on May 10, 1947 and was blessed with a happy marriage of over 70 years. They had four boys and two generations of grandchildren.
Following her husband’s service in the Army and work in southern Indiana, the family moved to Texas and New Mexico for work. In 1957, they moved to Prescott, Wis. where Lowell worked at the St. Paul Ammonia Plant and later the Koch Refinery. Donnis enjoyed flower and vegetable gardening and raising her four boys. She worked at Walcon Industries and Smead Manufacturing for 25 years.
Following their retirement, they travelled in their motorhome to the Northwoods of Wisconsin, Minnesota, Upper Peninsula of Michigan and visited relatives in Indiana, Colorado and Oklahoma. She was always a kind and gracious woman who was dedicated to her family and will be dearly missed by family and friends.
Donnis is survived by her children: Ron (Annette), Bruce (Jane), Ed (Tammy), Jim (Linda); 11 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; her sisters: Barbara Allen, Linda (Allen) Owens
(David), Kay (Allen) Byrd; brothers Larry Allen (Cheryl), Gary Allen, brother-in-law Gordon Goldman as well as numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. Donnis was preceded in death by her parents, Theimer and Ruby Allen (Guilliat) and sister Margaret Goldman.
Celebration of Life will take place at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, May 4, 2024 at The Old Ptacek’s Event Center: 1449 Orrin Road, Prescott, WI 54021. Interment will follow at Pine Glen Cemetery in Prescott.
Services are entrusted to the O’Connell Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Prescott, www.oconnellfuneralhomes.com, 715-262-5404
