Donna Jean (Hontz) Coplin

Donna Jean Hontz Coplin, of Rolla, passed from this life on Saturday, October 2, 2021 at the age of 84 years.

Donna was born on March 26, 1937 in Houstonia, MO to Eugene and Nina (Pummill) Hontz. She grew up in LaMonte, MO.

Donna enjoyed many activities throughout high school including volleyball, softball, basketball and choir.

She worked as a switchboard operator, directory assistant, for Southwestern Bell for 10 years.

On June 30, 1976 in Blue Springs, MO, she was united in marriage to Harry Coplin, who survives.

Harry and Donna met in Grandview, MO. As a military wife, she spent years in Terceira Island, Azores, Portugal. Donna loved word searches, her horses, the Kansas City Chiefs, the Kansas City Royals, Elvis, Gene Pitney, Dolly Parton and Three Dog Night. Most importantly, she loved spending time with her family: her sisters, children, grand-children and great-grandchildren.

Donna was preceded in death by her parents, Eugene and Nina Hontz, her eldest son, Mitchell Bryan Wells and her brother-in-law, Kenny Shanahan.

She will be deeply missed by her surviving family, which includes her husband of 45 years, Harry of Rolla, MO; sisters, Barb Douglas of Harrisonville, MO; Peggy Shanahan of Nixa, MO; and Nila (Eric) Ramsey of Ozark, MO; her five children, Shelly (Johnny) Gorman of Harrisonville, MO; Leslie Coverdell (Darrin Sutton) of Rolla, MO; Kaylan (Danny) Friend of Newburg, MO; Mike (Kelly) Wells of Edgar Springs, MO; Carla Dixon of Eldon, MO; and daughter-in-law, Teryna Wells of Harrisonville; two step-children, Robert Coplin of Sacramento, CA; and Patty Coleman of Sacramento, CA; thirteen grandchildren, Shawn Coverdell, Daniel Coverdell, Kristen Thompson, Dustin Friend, Jennifer Nolan, Chad Jennings, Kelsey Casto, Dalton Friend, Dillon Gorman, Tasarah Wells, Sydney Stevens, Spencer and Zoey Dixon; five step-grandchildren, Amber and Jennifer Thurman, John, Steven, and Christopher Coleman; fifteen great-grandchildren, Jesse, Austin, Sara, Taylor, Trevor, Jace, Dayton, Maddox, Dawson, Thomas, Jaxten, Duke, Sophie, Memphis and Kennedy; and one great-great-grandchild, Barrett.

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,” -Ecclesiastes 3:1-4.
A celebration of Life will be held at Payne Cemetery in Concordia, MO and will be announced at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you donate in memory of Donna to the American Stroke Association. Donations can be made to www.americanstroke.org or make checks payable to the American Stroke Association, PO Box 840692, Dallas, TX 75284-0692.