Donna Rose Mattice

Donna Rose Mattice, 75, passed away peacefully on Sunday, November 16, 2025. Born in Pioche, Nevada on September 6, 1950, to Elmer and Jean Donohue, she spent her childhood exploring the rugged beauty of the state she proudly called home. A second-generation Nevadan, she grew up rooted in the traditions, landscapes, and stories that defined her family’s place in Nevada’s history.

She was preceded in death by two brothers, as well as both of her late husbands—each of whom played meaningful roles in the different chapters of her life. She was first married for 19 years to Larry Dodge, who passed away in 1988, and later found love again, marrying Mitch Mattice and sharing 34 years before his passing earlier this year. She lived a life marked by grit, grace, and the kind of quiet strength that held an entire family together.

She built her early career as a manager at McDonald’s, where she led with fairness, humor, and an unwavering work ethic. Later, she dedicated 23 years of service to the State of Nevada as a correctional officer—an environment that demanded persistence, determination, and a level of strength most people never have to summon. She was respected by colleagues and those she encountered in her line of work, and she carried herself with the quiet confidence of someone who knew exactly who she was.

Family was her greatest love and her proudest accomplishment. She was the proud mother of seven children: Maurio (Stacy), Shaun (Desiree), Ben, Kelly (Brenda), John (Darla), Kery (Brandy), and Christina (Shawn). She poured love into every branch of her blended family tree, celebrating the arrival of each grandchild (17 in total) and great-grandchildren (7 in total) as a blessing. Her home was the heartbeat of the family and in every season, she anchored her family with devotion, steady encouragement, and love that never wavered. Her home was warm, welcoming, and always stocked with enough food to feed an army.

Away from work, the outdoors was her refuge. She felt most at peace under a wide Nevada sky, whether she was exploring backroads, camping with family, or simply soaking in the quiet beauty of the high desert. She had a passion for hunting—an enthusiasm she shared with her loved ones—finding joy not only in the sport itself, but in the time spent together, the stories swapped, and the traditions passed down. The outdoors connected her to her roots, her family, and her sense of adventure.

Her faith was evident in the way she moved through life – her compassion, her patience, her forgiveness, and her stubborn insistence on showing up for the people she loved. She devoted countless hours volunteering at local churches and supporting ministries close to her heart, quietly living out the values she believe in. She was strong but tender, determined but gentle, and fiercely loyal to the end. Her legacy is not measured in titles or possessions, but in the countless lives she touched and the generations she nurtured. Her faith shaped her path, sustained her through hardship, and guided her in every act of love she offered so generously.

She leaves behind a large and grateful family who will forever remember her as the matriarch who held them together, lifted them up, and loved them without condition. While her absence leaves a void impossible to fill, her spirit remains woven into the lives of those who loved her—a steady reminder of the power of faith, devotion, and unwavering strength.

A celebration of her life will be held on December 8, 2025, where family and friends will gather to remember the woman she was and the legacy she leaves behind.