Donna Faye Sauve

Donna F. Sauve
August 30, 1948 - March 23, 2026

Donna F. Sauve moved to the Streets of Gold to join her beloved husband, Emery, in Heaven just four days after he stepped away to help their Savior prepare her palace for her.

Donna's life was grounded in her faith, family, and community. She lived what she believed, offering grace, compassion, and encouragement through both word and deed. She was not quick to judge, but instead to "consider the source" of another's angst and attitude. Grateful for the grace she'd been given by God, she offered the same to those around her.

Donna served the Lord with her whole heart. Beneath her gentle demeanor was a faith so strong and resilient that it inspired confidence and admiration in everyone who knew her. Having grown up in the Episcople church, her faith was as solid as the Rock upon which she stood. Daily she read the Scriptures and prayed through her prayer list, constantly falling to her knees in battle for those whom she loved so dearly.

A dedicated wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother her love was steady and selfless. Her family always came first and her humility was genuine and constant-she loved and served them endlessly. Though she had a Bachelor's degree in Physical Education from NMSU, she gave up a career in teaching, and a professional career in golf, to raise her family. She made her home a safe place for her kids to grow and learn, always leading by example in doing for and serving others. To her daughters, she was the perfect mother. The perfect balance of nurturing and empowering, raising her girls to be strong, yet humble, wise women of God...capable of serving a meal, baking a pie, or busting chops on the athletic field! Meek, not weak! She was an emblem of strength and dignity, humility and honor.

In the athletic arena, Donna was her daughters' and grandkids' #1 fan! Donna exposed her girls to many sports and let them choose their own passions to pursue...then fervently supported them through every season in which they competed. She often joked that she ran her own Taxi service, delivering her kids and their friends here, there, and everywhere! Mileage didn't matter, she gassed up her trusty suburban and followed the team buses all over the state of New Mexico, and even across the country to watch her girls play volleyball, basketball, and lots and lots of soccer. She was ecstatic when God gave her grandsons and granddaughters to continue the sporting traditions! Donna loved to watch them play and compete and meticulously maintained their first and favorite practice field..her own front yard.

Every summer, Donna's yard was the first to turn green and was always the most popular to be used for any of the childhood games. Soccer or slip-and-slide, the front and back yards were manicured and accessible to the kids. As long as no balls made it into her immaculate flower beds, she was happy to listen to them playing and laughing as she prepared meals just inside the front door. There wasn't a plant that wouldn't grow for her, or a meal that didn't taste great. The only part of yard work and cooking where she struggled was in cutting things...occasionally she managed to cut off fingertips rather than the trimmings meant to be cut! Nevertheless, Donna had a green thumb and was Queen of the kitchen, but her skills didn't stop there.

Seamlessly tailoring her talents and her time, Donna was incredibly gifted as a seamstress. She grew up watching and learning from her mother and grandmother, and her own children often fell asleep to the hum of the sewing machine. Emery built her a sewing table and she ran a small business from her bedroom, "Fancy Pants". From custom lingerie to costumes for church plays and prom dresses to pajamas, Donna could whip stitch hems or make elegant bridesmaid and wedding dresses. Her home was delightfully decorated with homemade curtains, pillows, table dressings and more. Later in life she mended her son's-in-laws worn pants, patched the holes in the knees of her grandson's jeans, and made baby blankets to donate to the church's newborn care ministry.

While her priority was to her husband and children, Donna continued to play the game she most loved, golf. Her own father introduced her to the sport when she was only 10 years old at the nine-hole course in Alamogordo, NM. At the age of 17, she played in the U.S. Girls' Junior Championship in Colorado. Thus began her travel and amateur championship career. She went on to win 7 club championships at Arroyo Del Oso, the Albuquerque City Championship, and later the SCAGA Senior Championship.

As a player, she found joy and purpose on the course, but also treasured the opportunity to give back-volunteering her time and mentoring young golfers affording them opportunities to succeed that she never had. She encouraged others to grow in skill and character, quietly modeling integrity, discipline, and perseverance. She served on the WAPL (Women's Amateur Public Links) Championship Committee for 26 years promoting tournaments, raising funds, recruiting and training rules officials, and leading workshops for players and coaches on the rules of golf. She worked to raise the quality of high school golf tournament administration and to make golf accessible to everyone. She was on the SCAGA (Sun Country Amateur Golf Association) board of directors for 15 years, and was a former president of the board. Because of her legacy of service, the volunteer of the year award was renamed the Donna Sauve Volunteer Award to serve as a perpetual tribute to her service. She also received the Isaac B Grainger Award for 25 years of service as a volunteer. Donna was an accomplished Rules Official and was invited to officiate at several US Women's Open Golf Championships. She would load her clubs in the Suburban and set off across the country to serve the game. It was her motto to "never take the same road twice", seeing as much of God's creation as possible and the beautiful landscapes of the country she loved.

Donna was committed to teaching her children to serve those in need. Whether it was picking up an unsheltered mother on the side of the road and clothing and feeding her, or taking her elderly military veteran friends to Veteran's Day Parades, Donna gave what she had to serve others. When they were young, Donna took her daughters with her to volunteer at local senior day care centers. Together they would serve and entertain the elders in the community in their time of need. Having had her own father and step father serve in the military and police force, Donna was an avid supporter of first responders and would bake and deliver treats and notes of encouragement to the local stations.

Though not a nurse by trade, Donna was a nurse by heart. She cared for her elderly relatives with love and gentleness, through bouts of sickness or long term illness. It did not matter if it was her own family or her husband's, she opened her home and heart to caring for them. Donna walked her own mother through the long battle with Alzheimer's and in doing so lovingly and admirably showed her girls how to then walk the same heartbreaking journey with her so many years later.

Donna loved, honored, and served her husband faithfully for 56 years. She was his beloved, and he hers. While he provided financially for the family, Donna made the house a home, always welcoming friends and strangers, alike. Her hospitality provided a peaceful place for respite and fellowship. He praised her often for her diligence, faith, and for raising the girls so well. He considered her the most honorable of wives and a faithful Proverbs 31 woman. Donna made sure her Prince was dressed (and pressed) for success at the workplace and maintained the house and yards with tender thoroughness and love.

When all else was forgotten, it was her Prince Charming who she looked for and leaned on for comfort and connection, her forever Favorite Caddy. Their love story is one for all to emulate; soul mates in life and for all eternity in Heaven. Her soul simply could not go on without him by her side. As she left this earth for heaven, our hearts could hear her singing, "I'll fly away, oh glory!"

Donna will be remembered and cherished by her children Andrea Ehlert, Michelle (Eddie) Lopez, Jessica (Jon) Locker; grandchildren Kendahl Ehlert, Terrance Ehlert, Senovia Lopez, Sophia Lopez, Daniel Lopez, Gavin Locker, Beckett Locker; great-grandchildren Athena Ehlert Barber, Aspen Ehlert; her sister Barbara "Bobbie" (Ronnie) Harrington, nephew; her in-laws Allen (Annette) Sauve, Jeanne McDowell, Gerald (Israel) Sauve, sister-in-law Norma Sauve; and numerous nieces, nephews, extended family members, and dear friends. Those whom she is rejoicing with in Heaven are her parents Andrew "Barney" Prather and Fern Faye Prather-Sides (Ray), as well as her grandparents and many aunts, uncles, family, and close friends.

A celebration of Donna's life will be held on April 11, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. at Hope Church.