Donna Mae Ayers

Lieutenant Colonel Donna Mae Ayers, 86, passed away peacefully December 12, 2014. She was born February 10, 1928 to Vannie Gabriel and John Dudley Ayers, and was the oldest of four sisters. She graduated from Allen County High School, Scottsville, Kentucky April 5, 1946. After high school, Lieutenant Colonel Ayers graduated from St. Francis School of Nursing in Charleston, West Virginia September 22, 1949. Following graduation, she worked as a nurse in Charleston until she was appointed a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Army October 30, 1950. Lieutenant Colonel Ayers served the United States in Army Medical Units all over the world including Michigan, Korea, Louisiana, Kentucky, Germany, Texas, Pennsylvania, Okinawa and California. Her final military assignment was with the Army Nurse Corps at William Beaumont Army Medical Center (WBAMC) in El Paso, Texas, from February, 1972 to May, 1975. While at WBAMC, Lieutenant Colonel Ayers was the Chief of Community Health Care Nursing. Upon her retirement May 21, 1975 she was awarded the Meritorious Service Award May 31, 1975 for her work at WBAMC which included the responsibility for Outpatient Care to an average of 1,800 patients a day through a multiplicity of general and specialty clinics. In addition to the Meritorious Service Award, Lieutenant Colonel Ayers was also awarded the National Defense Service Medal with a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster, the Korean Service Award with Three Bronze Service Stars, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the Army Armed Forces Reserve Medal, and the United Nations Korean Service Medal. Following her retirement from the Army, Lieutenant Colonel Ayers enjoyed an active and full life with a strong circle of friends and family. She enjoyed traveling, especially internationally, and had a great passion for wildlife and humanitarian efforts. During the last years of her life, she was the recipient of dignified, compassionate and excellent care from the staff of Ambrosio Guillen Veteran's Home in El Paso, Texas. Lieutenant Colonel Donna Mae Ayers is survived by her three sisters, Patsy Faillace (Sal) of San Diego, California, Phyllis Klaffenbach of Holts Summit, Missouri, and Nancy Foltz of Atlanta, Georgia, cousin Hank Pearson, nieces and nephews Mike Faillace, Mark Faillace, Lisa Bosch, John Klaffenbach, Joel Klaffenbach, David Klaffenbach, Jeff Foltz and Johanna Fell, as well as several great and great-great nieces and nephews. Graveside Service with full military honors will be held Tuesday December 16, 2014 at 2:30 p.m in the East Shelter of Fort Bliss National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Doctors Without Borders via their website: or 333 7th Avenue, New York, NY 10001-5004 (212) 679-6800. Services entrusted to Sunset Funeral Home- North East, 4631 Hondo Pass Avenue, El Paso, TX 79904 (915) 755-4494.