Donna Jean Benner, 80 of Auburn, died on Thursday, December 2, 2011 at Miller's Merry Manor Nursing Home in Garrett. She was born October 15, 1931 in Auburn to R.D. and Eunice (Rufner) Parker. She married Gale W. Benner on October 15, 1949 in Auburn and he died in April 1998. Donna had worked at Messenger Corporation in Auburn for 9 years and then later owned and operated with her husband, Country Corner Crafts in Auburn in the early 1990's. She was a member of the Auburn United Methodist Church. She is survived by 3 sons; Victor Gale Benner of Auburn, Bradford (Loretta) Benner of Columbia City and Michael (Catherine) Benner of Bloomington, MN; 5 granddaughters, April Hutchinson, Rachel and Melanie Benner all of Littleton, CO; Megan Benner of Auburn and Jordan Benner of Minneapolis, MN, two grandsons, Steven "Scooter" Benner of Denton, TX and Johnathon Benner of Minneapolis, MN and 2 great grandchildren of Littleton, CO. Also surviving are two sisters, Frankie Bennett of Largo, FL and Bobbie Hicks of Kendallville. In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by a son, Roderick Benner; brother, Fayette Parker; sisters, Nancy Panning and Dottie Perry. A memorial service will be held in June when the flowers are in bloom. Memorials are to Miller's Merry Manor Nursing Home Activities Department