DONNA THOMPSON RYLEE

Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 am on Friday, February 8, 2013, in Delhomme Chapel of the Flowers for Donna Rylee, 81, who passed away on February 2, 2013. Reverend John Wamsley, Pastor of Grace Presbyterian Church of Lafayette, will conduct the funeral services. Burial will take place in St. Paul Cemetery in Ripley, TN. Donna was born on November 28, 1931 in west Tennessee. As the wife of a naval officer, she traveled and lived in many parts of the world and also was involved with the Officer Wives Clubs at the various Naval Stations where they lived. She graduated from Union University in Jackson, TN with a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Education. She taught school in Key West, FL and on the U.S. Naval Base, Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico. Donna served as District President of Zeta Tau Alpha for 10 years, as well as, president of several local organizations including Chez Amis Women's Club, Chapter A.X. of P.E.O., and Budwatcher's Garden Club. She was also active in the Acadiana High School Marching Band Parent's Club and served as President. Mrs. Donna, a resident of Lafayette, was the daughter of the late John Thompson and Rubye Fields Thompson. She was the loving wife to LCDR James E. Rylee, USN for 49 years and had been a resident of Lafayette, LA for 41 years. She is survived by three sons, James Edward Rylee III of Lafayette, LA, John Michael Rylee and Margie Hallstrands Rylee of Grapevine, TX and Patrick Lee Rylee of San Francisco, CA; three granddaughters, Elizabeth Rylee Rosa, and Sarah and Catherine Rylee and one great grandson, Thomas James Rosa. She was preceded in death by her husband and parents. The family requests that visiting hours be observed at Delhomme Funeral Home of Lafayette on Friday from 10:00 am until time of service. The family would like to take this opportunity to thank Emilia Thomas, the office of Dr. Karen Roden, Concepts of Care Home Health and Hospice of Acadiana, especially Jolleen Doucet. In lieu of flowers, the family request that donations be made to Hospice of Acadiana, 2600 Johnston Street, Ste 200, Lafayette, LA, 70503, to St. Paul Cemetery Fund, C/O Zane Fisher, 19 Henning Orysa Road, Ripley, TN, 38063 or to PEO Foundation, C/O PEO Executive Office, 3700 Grand Avenue, Des Moines, IA, 50312-2899. Personal condolences may be sent to the Rylee family at www.delhommefuneralhome.com. Delhomme Funeral Home, 1011 Bertrand Drive, Lafayette, LA is in charge of funeral arrangements.

DONNA THOMPSON RYLEE

November 28, 1931 - February 2, 2013