Lynnsey Donald

LYNNSEY DONALD

Cedar Rapids

Lynnsey Michelle Donald, 29, died April 21, 2015, in Marion. A memorial service will be 7 p.m. Friday, April 24, at Marion First United Methodist Church, with Pastor Mike Morgan officiating. Funeral services will be 2:30 p.m. Sunday, April 26, at Behner Funeral Home in Fairfield, with Pastor Mike Morgan officiating. Burial will be at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, a Lynnsey Donald Memorial Fund, to help with her son's education, has been established through any US Bank location.

Lynnsey was born March 26, 1986, in Iowa City to Steve and Michelle Donald. Lynnsey and her family moved to Chandler, Ariz., in 1989 and, in 2002, returned to Cedar Rapids with her mother. The following year, she tragically lost her mother, Michelle, to epilepsy. In 2004, she graduated from Prairie High School. Following high school, she attended La James College of Cosmetology in Iowa City. She then lived for some time in Fairfield before once again returning to Cedar Rapids.

On April 20, 2008, her life changed forever when the light of her life, her son, Ashton Oscar Tlusty, was born. Nothing mattered more to her than making her son smile, and not a day went by that he did not know that he was loved. Having lost her mother at a young age, Lynnsey knew the importance of the role she played in Ashton's life. She loved being Ashton's mother and she excelled at motherhood; being a mother shaped the warm, beautiful young woman she became.

Lynnsey will be remembered as a beautiful young woman who loved her family deeply, cared for everyone compassionately regardless of the circumstances in which they met, and who always wore a smile; a smile that lit up the room as brightly as the sun. Lynnsey shared her love of life and beautiful soul with all those she encountered in her journey through life, most often greeting them with a warm, sincere hug.

Lynnsey worked as a teller coordinator at US Bank in Cedar Rapids. Previously, she worked as a cosmetologist at Cost Cutters.

Lynnsey is survived by her son, Ashton Tlusty; father, Steve Donald; stepmother, Christine Donald; half sister, Taylor Donald; grandmother, Patsy Booth; grandmother, Roberta Donald; grandfather, Ed Donald; many aunts, uncles and cousins; and many friends, especially the Paula Fields and Larry Feltz family of Marion, who were all deeply touched by her life.

She was preceded in death by her mom, Michelle Donald; and her grandfather, Frank Booth.

Online condolences may be made to the family at www.behnerfh.com.