Donna Ann Lawton

Donna Ann Lawton, of South Bend, passed away on the early afternoon of Saturday, April 12, 2025, at the age of 72.  She was born on January 12, 1953, in South Bend to the late Donald Clay and Lois (Fluckey) Slater. 

Donna is survived by her children, Eric (Stacey) Lawton, Christopher (Valerie) Lawton, and Philip Lawton, all from South Bend.  She was the proud grandma to Adrianna, Shelby-Lynn, Lexis, Emma, and Harley-Ann Lawton and a great grandma to James, Caroline and Natalie Blackburn.  She is also survived by her sisters, Alice (Rick) Perkins of South Bend, Barbara Lauderback of North Liberty, Linda Ampey of South Bend, and Nancy Sarber of Plymouth, and by her brothers, Ronald (Jackie) Clay of Elkhart, and Mark Slater of Florida. 

Along with her parents, Donna was preceded in death by her son, Jeremy Lawton, by her grandson, Zachary Lawton, by her sister, Mary Nichols, by her brothers, Paul Slater, Eugene Slater, and Howard Clay, by her ex-husband, Alfred Lawton, and by her longtime companion, John Tolley.

Donna’s greatest joy was hanging out with her family laughing and joking.  She enjoyed capturing memories through her scrapbooking and drawings.

Donna’s family is following her wishes to be cremated.  There will be a memorial service at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 10, 2025, in the Hanley and Sons Funeral Home, 23421 S. R. 23, South Bend, IN 46614, where friends may visit with the family two hours prior to service time. 

The HANLEY and Sons Funeral Home “Southwest Chapel” and Cremation Service handled arrangements and extends our deepest sympathy and heartfelt prayers to all of Donna’s family and friends. 

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