Donna Sutherland Pearson, 96, passed away on Friday, April 26, 2013. She was born on May 22, 1916 to Mae Dierks Sutherland and Robert Robinson Sutherland. Her father was the founder of Sutherland Lumber Co. His Legacy lives on through the involvement of Donna’s family and the families of her four brothers, Herman Sutherland, Robert Q. Sutherland, Dwight Sutherland, and John Sutherland. The third and fourth generation continue the management of Sutherland Lumber Co. and it’s subsidiaries. In 1940, Donna married Sam C. Pearson, Jr. Sam was a General Agent for Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Co.
Donna and Sam shared a loving marriage for 52 years before his death in 1993. They were proud parents of four children. Donna attended Sunset Hill School, Miss Porters School in Farmington, CT, and the University of Kansas where she belonged to Pi Beta Phi Sorority. As a lifelong native of Kansas City, she enjoyed membership in the Junior League of Kansas City, MO, the Kansas City Country Club, and the River Club. She especially loved playing bridge with her friends. She is survived by four children; Ann Kleb (Melvin), Susan Wilson (John), Sam Pearson, and Steve Pearson (Holli); eleven grandchildren; and ten great-grandchildren
A memorial service will be held at the Wesley Chapel at the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection; 13720 Roe Ave., Leawood, KS., Friday, May 3, 2013 at 10:30am In Lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Peter Sutherland Pearson Foundation for the Education of Diabetes at Children’s Mercy Hospital; 2401 Gillham Road, Kansas City, MO, 64108. Funeral assistance provided by Funeral Advocates, LLC. Funeral Arrangements entrusted to Signature Funerals, LLC