Donna D. DeMayo

Donna D. DeMayo passed away peacefully at her home on February 1, 2025 after a valiant 22-month battle with pancreatic cancer. Surrounded by loved ones, she was on the back porch – her favorite room – facing the view she loved when she took her last breath.

Donna enjoyed being with family and friends, traveling, skiing, and crafting annual family photo albums. She was a lifetime amateur athlete. She was an expert water skier having spent many summers on Lake Sunapee, NH. She also played field hockey, basketball, racquetball, and adult co-ed soccer. She was a life-long snow skier and certified Open Water SCUBA Diver. With a zest for life, she traveled across three oceans to four continents; the Equator and the Arctic Circle.

Donna was smart, articulate, driven, loving, and generous. She and her husband endowed a scholarship for the Southeast Missouri State University’s women’s soccer team.

Donna graduated from Newport High School in 1970 and the University of Maryland with a Bachelor of Science in Business, Suma Cum Laude in 1981.

Donna had a successful business career that spanned decades. She managed contracts for several small and large companies doing business with the Federal Government. She also had her own small business advising companies on how to win and manage Federal contracts. Donna retired from Lockheed Martin Corporation as Contract Manager and Deputy Program Manager on a multi-billion dollar program.

Donna is survived by Doug Smith, her loving husband and partner of 30 years; her three step-children Shelley Smith, Nicole LiaBraaten and her husband Lane, Chad Smith and his wife Becky, and Donna’s grandchildren Silas, Isaac, Cassidy, and Jackson. The oldest of five children, Donna was predeceased by her sister Lauri DeMayo, her sister-in-law Sharon DeMayo, and her father Donald DeMayo. She is survived by her mother Lucy DeMayo, her sisters Pamela Locke and Karen DeMayo, her brother Jeffrey DeMayo; and many nephews, nieces, cousins, aunts, an uncle and dear friends.

A graveside service will take place at 11 AM on Sunday, April 27, 2025 at Saint Patrick's Cemetery on Summer Street in Newport, with a Celebration of Life immediately following at Sugar River Bank Community Room, 10 North Main Street in Newport.

In lieu of flowers please consider a memorial donation to: Blue Ridge Hospice, brhospice.org, click: Donate.

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