Donna Joyce Taylor

Donna Joyce Taylor 72, was granted her wings on August 7th, 2022, in Phoenix Arizona with family and friends. Donna was born at Walls Hospital in Blytheville, AR on September 15, 1949. to James H. (Jim) Hudson and Emily Faye Hansberger (nee Parsons.) She spent most of her childhood in Chicago. Donna graduated from Willow Brook High School in IL. She then moved back to Blytheville for a few years and set out for Phoenix, Arizona in the mid-70s. Later she met Jean and built a good life together. Donna graduated from Arizona State University in 1992 with a Master's degree in English/Literacy. she became an Adult Literacy Teacher; she started teaching at Glendale Community College, onto ASU then to the Arizona State Prison system until she retired. In the mid 90's Donna and Jean decided to move to Washington State to venture a new life. Worked at Washington University till the early 2000s until they decided to come back to Phoenix, Phoenix was Donna's home, which she remained home until her death. Donna was known for her welcoming and extreme generous spirit. She and Jean held Thanksgiving dinners at their home for many years for those that had not family in which to spend the holiday alone. Donna was positive, full of laughter and happy even at her worst she always had a smile. She was a avid Amazon shopper. If your ever mentioned, you liked or needed something, you would get a package not just one though 2-3 even a subscription of the same thing delivered from Amazon. She loved to play games on Facebook with friends, She loved watching the Arizona Cardinals and the Phoenix Mercury's Donna was an active member of the LGBTQ communities, and a spokesperson of Phoenix Pride. Donna was preceded in death by her father James (Jim) Hudson, Mother, Emily Faye Hansberger (nee Parsons), Stepmother Jo Hudson, Sister, Jimmy Louise Gardner, Brother Mark Hudson, and Nephew, John David Stuckey. Donna is survived by her beloved wife, Jean Simeone of Phoenix, son Harvey Arthur (Artie) Taylor III, sister Janice (Keith) Cox of Springfield, MO, nephew Tony Stuckey of MS, and niece Robyn (Justin) Taft of Springfield, MO. She also leaves her best friend Christine Blessie, and many others that will miss her lovely smile, positivity and her long late night talks terribly.