Dona Gwen McEachern

Mrs. Dona Gwen Morrison McEachern, 67, passed away at her home in Newnan. Dona was an accomplished artist and art teacher. She was a member of Central Baptist Church and a sustaining member of the Driftwood Garden Club. Dona was born on May 1, 1948 to Evelyn Pankratz and the late T. L. Morrison in Ashburn, GA. She attended Turner County High School, where she was the 1966 homecoming queen. After graduation she attended LaGrange College and Auburn University, graduating from LaGrange College in 1970 with a B.A. in Fine Arts. She was a profound artist, art teacher, and writer, publishing a book of poems, Of Northern Lights in 1977 while in Iceland and wrote a book of children’s stories. She was also a member of the Officer’s Wives Club on the NATO base while in Iceland from 1971 – 1974. After moving from Iceland to Stone Mountain and then to Newnan in 1978, she pursued her studies in art, taking lessons from Constantin, Ramon, and Marc Chativ, as well as her taking illustration courses at Georgia State University. Several years later she would volunteer her time teaching art lessons at the Georgia Baptist Children’s Home, and later began teaching art lessons at home until 2006. Many of her classes participated and held award placements in the CVAA (Chattahoochee Valley Art Association) shows. She also taught many students who were awarded art scholarships into college. She was preceded in death by her father, T.L. Morrison and daughter, Lynn Morrison McEachern. She is survived by her daughter, Lee McEachern Collins and Robert (Bob) Carl Collins, Sr., Newnan, mother and step-father, Evelyn and Ray Pankratz, Ashburn, grandchildren, Elizabeth Lee (Lilly) Collins and Robert (Bob) Carl Collins, Jr., Newnan, brother, Robley and Ann Morrison, Ashburn, three nephews, Ashburn and an aunt and uncle in Sycamore. Condolences may be expressesd at www.mckoon.com. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made in Dona’s memory to The Heritage School Art Department, 2093 Highway 29 North, Newnan, GA 30263 or to Central Baptist Church, 14 West Broad Street, Newnan, GA 30263 The memorial service is Tuesday, November 3, 2015 at 5:00 PM in the chapel of McKoon Funeral Home with Dr. Joel Richardson officiating. The family will greet friends beginning at 4:00 PM. The family interment service is 1:00 p.m. Wednesday, November 4, 2015 at Rose Hill Cemetery in Ashburn, GA. McKoon Funeral Home (770) 253-4580

Dona Gwen McEachern

May 1, 1948 - October 30, 2015