B. Donabell Peckham

B. Donabell Peckham, 81, of Gothenburg died on February 20, 2006 at Gibbon, NE.
Donabell was born on March 26, 1926 at JayEm, WY to Dan Gillman & Viola May Canaday Pierson. She attended
elementary schools in Wyoming and graduated from Campion Academy near Loveland, CC, in 1945. She went to Union
College in Lincoln, NE to get her Teaching Certificate and took special work at the Southeast University Center at
Torrington, WY. She taught rural elementary schools in Colorado and Wyoming prior to her marriage.
On June 7, 1959 she married John S. Peckham at Torrington, WY. She moved to Gothenburg, NE to John’s family farm and became a mother to his 4 girls: Carolyn, Jacque, Marilyn & Barbara. Then, 3 more children were born into the family:
David, Douglas, & Deea. After her marriage, Donabell stayed at home to raise her family. Donabell kept busy not only with her own children, but she was a foster mother for many years, and also babysat many neighborhood children. She was honored as Gothenburg’s Mother of the Year in 1978. Donabell had a special place in her heart for bottle lambs and baby calves. She also raised a big garden and put up lots of canned goods for her family to enjoy.
Donabell was a life long member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. She served in many capacities including Church Clerk and Community Service Leader. Donabell enjoyed working with her hands whether it be crocheting dolls, sweaters, tablecloths and afghans or hand quilting wall-hangings and quilts or making clothes and rugs. She liked to create one-of- a-kind quilts with no duplicates of each piece of material. Donabell enjoyed many years as a member of the “Sod House Quilters” and “Hobby Club”.
Survivors include her children: David, Darlene & Shawn Peckham of Indianola, NE; Douglas & Teresa Peckham of
Gothenburg, NE; Deea, Jon & Myla Kaufmann of Gibbon, NE; 3 sisters: Ruby Scheller of Pierce CC; Maysie (Ray)
Helms of Arlington CA; and Eunice (Ed) Horn of San Diego CA; 1 brother Donald Pierson of Riverton WY. 2 Sisters-in-law
Ethelyn Pierson of Torrington, WY; & Eileene Pierson of Buffalo, WY; 1 brother-in-law Don Loomer of Walla Walla, WA; 4
step-daughters and their families: Carolyn (Dave) Nelson, Jacque (Tom) Shotkoski, Marilyn (Don) Hayes all of Lincoln,
NE, & Barbara (Lennie) Devine of Grand Island, NE. Numerous nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents, 2 sisters Rosella Pierson & Edna Loomer and 2 brothers Walter & Eugene and a step grandson.