Donna Marie McQuain, assistant clinical professor in the NAU College of Health Professions’ School of Nursing, died July 3, 2009, at her Flagstaff home. She was 55.
Born July 14, 1953, in Omaha, Neb., Ms. McQuain loved the outdoors and enjoyed sailing and motorcycles. She also enjoyed dogs and spending time with her nieces and nephews. She had a strong Christian faith, evidenced in both her personal and professional life and through her service as a missionary in Alaska and Africa.
“Donna had done many things in her career, but when she came to the NAU School of Nursing she felt she was home,” said Debera Thomas, dean of the School of Nursing. “She loved teaching, and the students loved her. She had finally found her passion.”
Ms. McQuain had been a nurse since earning an A.A. degree in 1973 from Maricopa Tech in Phoenix. She was a family nurse practitioner after earning a degree from the University of Arizona in 1976.
She earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Phoenix and in 2006 earned a master’s in nursing education from the University of Northern Colorado. Prior to joining the NAU faculty in 2007, Ms. McQuain worked at Mountain Crest Behavioral Health Center in Fort Collins, Colo., and was a volunteer at the Colorado State University Veterinary Hospital.
Most of her recent professional work was dedicated to behavioral health substance abuse and treatment. At NAU, she taught psychiatric mental health nursing and medical surgical nursing.
Ms. McQuain is survived by her parents, Willis and Doris McQuain of Flagstaff; brothers Terry (Christine) of San Antonio, Texas, Danny (Kathleen) of Peoria, Ariz., and Larry (Andrea) of Fort Collins; and by six nieces and nephews.
A memorial service is scheduled for 2 p.m. Saturday, July 11, at Flagstaff Christian Fellowship, 123 S. Beaver St., Flagstaff.
A scholarship fund has been set up in her name, and in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to NAU Foundation, Donna McQuain Scholarship Fund, Northern Arizona University, PO Box 4094, Flagstaff, AZ 86011.
Condolences may be sent to the family at norvelowensmortuary.com.