La Donna Maria Tatum

La Donna Maria (Smith) Tatum, of Groesbeck, passed away at her home on Monday, July 6, 2020, at age 52.

Friends and family may pay their respects with "come-and-go" visitation at Groesbeck Funeral Home, observing Covid 19 guidelines (masks and 6-feet distance), during the day on Friday, July 10, from 8:00-5:00 P.M.

Graveside services will be held at 10:00 A.M. on Saturday, July 11, 2020 at the Faulkenberry Cemetery Pavilion.

La Donna was born in Waco on January 4, 1968 to Simon Sanchez Smith Sr. and Leotilde Cortinas Smith.    Except for a few years in her childhood when the family lived in Raymondville, she grew up and attended school in Marlin.   

La Donna loved God and was a Catholic, with her home church being in Raymondville.   

After moving to Groesbeck, La Donna worked as a nurse’s aid at Windsor Healthcare.   She was such a kind considerate shower-girl who took very good care of her patients that they refused to take a shower when she was off work.   She took special care like they were her own family.   She later worked at Park Plaza Nursing Home (now Groesbeck LTC.)

La Donna had a great personality and liked to joke and kid with everyone.  She was such a person that once a person met her they loved her. 

La Donna was preceded in death by her father, Simon Smith Sr., and a grandson, Calvin Clay Koppenol.

She is survived by her husband, Eric Tatum; son and daughter-in-law, Ramsey Simon and Diana Smith of Thornton; daughter, Malyssa McGowan of Groesbeck; son, Jesus Casey Smith of Groesbeck; son, Earnest McGowan Jr. of Groesbeck; her mother and step-father, Leotilde and Francisco Rios of Groesbeck; 6 brothers and a sister and brother-in-law:  Simon Smith, Jr. of Marlin, Seymour Smith of Marlin, Malisa and Arturo Gonzalez of Waco, Charlie Smith of Marlin, Max Smith and wife Shannon of Waco, Joshua Smith of College Station, and Luis Angel Rivero of Waco.