Dona Barella

Casper, Wyoming May 29, 1930 - July 20, 2019 Dona May Barella a resident of Life Care Nursing Home, passed away peacefully on Saturday, July 20, 2019 at Wyoming Medical Center. She will be remembered for her stunning beauty in body and spirit. She was born on May 29, 1930 in Lander, Wyoming to Jasper LaVern and Agnes Morgan Beech Phillips. She was very proud of her father's Wyoming Heritage Family, and the Phillip's Brothers Sheep Ranch, operating in the early 1900's. On December 29, 1946 she married Luke Barella in Casper, Wyoming and through this union came two daughters, Cheryl "Kiki" and Joyce. She was a selfless, devoted mother and wife, a gifted artist, accomplished seamstress, and a homemaker. She was a cherished friend to many. If you ever had a slice of her homemade lemon/sherry bundt cake, pecan/oatmeal/coconut Big Horn Mountains cake, or German chocolate cake, you would know how gifted she was. We all looked forward to our birthday meal of green chili with all of the traditional fixins', which took an entire day to prepare. For seven years, she was the office manager for The Light House. A lifelong Wyomingite, she enjoyed camping and fishing in the Big Horn Mountains with her family and friends. She traveled to the Sea of Cortez, Baja, Mexico, the US Virgin Islands, and British Virgin Islands with her daughters. Also, Dona was a devoted Denver Broncos fan. Dona is survived by her daughters, Kiki Rooney (George) of Westminster, SC and Joyce Hopkins Bigge (Dr. Christopher Bigge) of Albuquerque, NM, grandson Thad Rooney (Beth) of Fountain Inn, SC, great grandson, Brayden Cassidy of Cheyenne, WY, great granddaughter Katelyn Rooney of Almagordo, NM, half-brother George Phillips, and many nephews, nieces, and their families. Dona was preceded in death by her parents, her husband of 71 years and sadly too many nieces and nephews gone too soon. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Saturday, July 27, 2019 at St. Anthony's Catholic Church at 11:00 a.m. A reception will follow at O'Reilly Hall. Private inurnment will follow at the Oregon Trail State Veterans Cemetery, where she will join her husband, Luke. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Dona's name to Nicolaysen Art Museum. Bustard's Funeral Directors have been entrusted with arrangements.

Service

Saturday, July 27, 2019 11:00am

St. Anthony's Catholic Church

7th and Center

Casper, Wyoming 82601

A reception will follow at O'Reilly Hall.

Reception

St. Anthony's Catholic Church

CASPER, WY

A reception will follow the service at O'Reilly Hall.