Donna (Swopes) Epley, passed to the celestial life above on Sunday, February 22, 2026, at the age of 91.
On December 5, 1934, she was the first of five children born to George V. Swopes and T. Inez Phipps Swopes at Savoy, Washington County, Arkansas.
She began her education at Prairie View. A small one-room school not far from Savoy. After the family moved to Benton County, she attended school at Robinson, and after Robinson school consolidated with Siloam Springs Schools, Donna graduated from there in 1952.
After she earned her degree in nursing at Hillcrest School of Nursing in Tulsa, Oklahoma, she began her nursing career at the Veteran’s Hospital in Fayetteville, Arkansas, as a registered nurse while continuing her education at the University of Arkansas.
She met Lewis E. Epley, Jr. on a blind date at Charlie Davis’ house in Springdale. They were married on February 24, 1962. They enjoyed married life for over 60 years until Lewis’ death. They lived in Eureka Springs for 40 years where Donna worked as a Registered Nurse for the Eureka Springs Hospital for many years. Upon Lewis’ retirement, they moved to Fayetteville and resided in the Butterfield Trail Retirement Village.
Donna and Lewis were instrumental in enabling the University of Arkansas Medical Center initiating a physical therapy department on the northwest campus in Fayetteville, as well as the renovation of the UofA School of Nursing facility. Donna is preceded in death by her beloved husband of 63 years, Lewis, in March 2025, her parents, three brothers: Vester L. Swopes, Darrell E. Swopes and George E. Swopes, and two nephews, Christopher P. Epley and Kevin L. Clark.
Donna is survived by her sister, Shirlean Jewell of Fayetteville; two sistersin- law, Joyce Swopes of Springdale, Arkansas and Rita Swopes of Farmington, Arkansas; two brothers-inlaw, Alan (Sherry) Epley of Rogers, Arkansas, and Charles (Janet) Epley of Eureka Springs, Arkansas; several nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, cousins, and friends.
There will be a private family gathering. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Epley Nursing Scholarship payable to the UA Foundation, Gift Services Administration, 481 S. Shiloh Dr., Fayetteville, AR 72704 or in Donna’s name to the Department of Physical Therapy, College of Health Professions, UAMS Northwest Regional Campus, 1125 N. College Ave., Fayetteville, AR 72703.
To sign the online guest book please visit www.bernafuneralhomes. com
