Donna Kaaren Whitman Vance

Donna Kaaren Whitman Vance, 84, of Amarillo, passed away on Wednesday, August 26, 2026. Funeral services will be 10:00 AM Monday, August 31, 2026, at Cox-Rowley Funeral Home Chapel, 4180 Canyon Drive. Burial will take place at Mission Garden of Memories Cemetery in Clovis, New Mexico.

Donna was born July 3, 1942 in Clovis, New Mexico to L.A. and Evangeline Whitman. She graduated from Clovis High School in 1960. She married the love of her life, Bill Vance, on January 25, 1963 in Clovis. They moved to Amarillo that same year. Together they raised three sons, Eddy, Bud and Shawn. Donna and Bill enjoyed over 50 years of marriage until Bill’s passing in 2016.

Donna dedicated her life to caring for her family. She was a talented painter and crafter. She was very active with Randall County 4-H with her boys and was like a second mother to all the 4-H kids. Donna loved talking to people and never met a stranger. She was a very generous person and would give anything she could to fill a need that someone had. She also loved to cook and feed people, especially for big holiday meals. Christmas was her favorite holiday. She very much enjoyed decorating her home for the season and hosting large Christmas dinners. Donna will be dearly missed by her family and friends.

The family would like to extend special thanks to the Hudson House in Canyon for the excellent and loving care that Donna received during her years there. 

She was preceded in death by her parents; and her husband, Bill Vance.

Survivors include three sons, Eddy Vance and wife Linda, Bud Vance and wife Andrea and Shawn Vance and wife Daisha all of Amarillo; her grandchildren, Ashley Wingate and husband Matt, Tyler Vance and wife, Alyssa, Sydni Vance, Will Vance, Maddie Vance, Grace Albrandt and husband Jordan, Aubrey Vance, Darian Bonney and Hanna Edwards; and her great-grandchildren, Lucas, Weston, Brittyn, Kyndall, Brady, Hayes, Aurora, Stella, Sheldon, Brileigh, Liam, Addi and Matthew.

The family suggests memorial donations may be made to Randall County 4-H, @ www.https://agrilifeextension.tamu.edu/.