Donna Harris

Donna Mae Lavender Harris, 86, passed away Sunday, April 25, 2021 at home with her loving family at her side and under Iowa River Hospice care. Donna was born November 6, 1934, the fourth of eight children born to R. Brook and Thelma (McDonnell) Lavender in Gilman, Iowa. She attended Gilman Consolidated School, graduating in 1953. She played basketball from junior high throughout High School when in her junior year as a guard she was named to the second team of the Iowa Girl's High School All-State team. Her senior year as a guard she was named to the Iowa Girl's High School All-State first team. After graduation, she moved to Marshalltown and worked as a stenographer for Fisher Governor Co. where she also played basketball on the Fisher team and later for an Independent Basketball team. On June 18, 1955 Donna was united in marriage to Eugene (Gene) Harris, auctioneer from Haverhill. To this union, four children were born. Donna and Gene worked side by side for their auction business, holding auctions all over the Midwest until 1973 when they purchased their own facility in Marshalltown and named it the Gene Harris Antique Auction Center, Inc. With the help of their four children and later in-laws, they conducted antique auctions until their retirement in 2003, when their auctioneer son, Tom took over the business. Donna & Gene loved traveling across country in their Winnebago motor home to antique shows and visiting family and friends.  Donna loved music, cooking, reading, detective shows and puzzling, but most of all she loved her extended family and her many friends over the years. She was a member of St. Mary Catholic Church and the American Legion Auxiliary. Donna is survived by her four children: daughter Julie (Terry) Stern, sons Jeffrey, Terry (Patrick) and Tom Harris, all of Marshalltown; eight grandchildren, 17 great grandchildren and one great-great; brother Larry Lavender and many nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her husband Gene of 52 years, her parents, brothers Kenneth and Gordon Lavender, and sisters Norma Elliott, Bonnie Haradon, Ruth Ashing and Mary Ahlberg. Funeral Mass for Donna will be held on Thursday, April 29 at 10:30 A.M. at St. Francis of Assisi Parish: St. Mary Catholic Church, 9 W Linn St., in Marshalltown.  Donna will be laid to rest following the service at Riverside Cemetery. A visitation will take place one hour prior beginning at 9:30 A.M. at St. Mary’s. Memorials may be directed in her name to St Francis Catholic School Fund or Iowa River Hospice House. Mitchell Family Funeral Home has been entrusted with the care of Donna and her family. For additional questions or to leave a condolence, please visit www.mitchellfh.com or call 641-844-1234.