Donnie Rue Boring passed away peacefully in Snowflake on Dec. 26, 2017. A visitation will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 2, at Owens Livingston Mortuary, located at 84 E. 19 S. in Snowflake. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 3, at the LDS Chapel, located at 8181 Westover St. in Joseph City, with a viewing one hour prior to the service. Burial will follow at the Joseph City Cemetery. Donnie Rue Boring was born in Holbrook on Oct. 24, 1950, to James and Freida Boring. He was the older twin to Connie Weatherford with 30 minutes separating them, a distinction he often loved to tease his sister about. They would later move to Snowflake where he became a proud Lobo, often breaking out into the catchy fight song. He would become one of 13 children growing up in a home filled with love. From an early age, Donnie had a passion for learning. One of the many memories his family holds dear is of him stating if he could make a living learning, he would do it in a heartbeat. His higher education began when he attended Eastern Arizona College where he received his Associate’s degree in General Education. He would later enroll in Northern Arizona University to earn a Bachelor’s degree in English with a minor in Theater. It was his love of drama and music that would lead him to direct many school musicals and productions, also assisting his talented brother, Jim, whenever needed. Ever seeking more knowledge, he would later go on to pursue his Master’s in Education and Family Counseling. Donnie loved his Savior. There was nothing he loved more than to serve those around him. When he received his mission call to Northern California at the age of 19, he proudly donned the name of Elder Boring. He would spend the rest of his life accepting calls and opportunities to share his strong and unwavering testimony in the Gospel. He was a bishop, high councilman, stake missionary, temple worker, and seminary teacher. However, his absolute favorite role within the Church was being a home teacher, followed closely by teaching the youth. It was his calling as a seminary teacher that inspired him to pursue a career in education. On April 27, 1973, Donnie married his best friend Wanda Lou Young. They loved to joke about how his sweetheart used to be young and interesting but when Donnie took her to the Mesa Temple to become eternal companions, she became old and boring. They became an instant family when he adopted and claimed as his own, one-year-old Mark, his new bride’s son from a previous marriage. Together, Donnie and Wanda would give Mark five siblings, two beautiful sisters, Michelle and Freida, and three rambunctious brothers, Richard, Elvin and Brian. Raising a family of six was often challenging but Donnie and Wanda did it with style and grace. It was their devotion to each other that would see them weather multiple storms, including a life changing car accident. But Donnie didn’t let that stop him. He would become a renaissance man, a jack-of-all trades, taking on an assortment of jobs so he could provide for his beloved family. He worked as a meat cutter, a baker, a co-owner of a grocery store with his father, a teacher, a gas station attendant and he often held multiple positions while going to school. He set a strong example of work ethics, dedication and doing the best job possible. Everything he did was for his beloved wife and family. He was welcomed into the arms of his Savior after decades of suffering with medical issues. With the quiet assurance that those he left behind would be okay, he slipped away quietly in his sleep. He is survived by wife, Wanda; his children, Mark (Belinda), Richard, Michelle (Nathan), Freida (Robert), Elvin (Tara) and Brian (Mackenzie); and his grandchildren, Tereasa, Connie, Issac, Josephine, Katherine, Macy, Samantha, Merrik, Raelynn, Keaton, Elvin Cearsen, Morgan, Sadie and Carson. He was deeply loved and will be missed by all who knew him. Owens Livingston Mortuary-Heritage Chapel of Snowflake handled the arrangements.
