Donya Lei Harvey

Donya Lei Gardiner Harvey, 62, of Smithfield, Utah passed away on June 18, 2025, from complications due to Ovarian cancer, surrounded by her loving family.

Donya was welcomed into this world on September 23, 1962, at the Holy Cross Hospital in Salt Lake City Utah, by her parents Errol Murray and LeiMomi Jean Watts Gardiner. She was the oldest of four children and spent her growing-up years in New Mexico, Wyoming, and Utah, graduating with honors from Carbon High School and LDS Seminary in Price, Utah. She was a graduate of the College of Eastern Utah (CEU) and also attended the University of Utah, Brigham Young University and the University of Maryland. Debate was a fun part of her schooling, an activity in which she excelled. While attending CEU, her debate team participated in and won national level competitions.

A life-long member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Donya believed her church service was of the utmost importance to her. She enjoyed serving God and others through everything she did in the Church. She was blessed to serve an eighteen-month mission to Sapporo Japan, and later enjoyed a variety of church-service callings that included Relief Society President in Beijing China, Young Women’s Counselor, Young Women’s camp director as well as Primary Counselor, teacher and chorister. She also served as an early-morning Seminary teacher in two different locations in Maryland, teaching a total of four years.

Donya’s missionary service to Japan eventually led to her meeting her husband. Lance Franklin Harvey, of Monticello, Utah, and Donya were married May 12, 1988, in the Salt Lake Temple. Donya and Lance’s travels first took them across the nation to Beltsville and later to Havre de Grace, Maryland, then on to Taipei Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Beijing, China. Traveling to these far-flung places allowed them to hand-pick (adopt) five wonderful children: Jeremy Bozhi, Marc Yuwei, Melissa Yuhsien, Michelle Fuping, and MaPhew Yi-de. They also provided foster care for two boys waiting to be adopted by families in the US: DJ Bierly and Grayson Green.

Donya’s belief in working hard and in being industrious led her to employment with First Security Bank (Wells Fargo), the University of Utah Credit Union, the Department of Defense, teaching missionaries Japanese at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah, and teaching English to primary school-aged children in Taiwan. While working for the Department of Defense in 1991, she earned a civilian service award for support to Operation Desert Storm.

Donya’s love for life outside of work led her on a journey to discover an interest in a myriad of different hobbies and activities. She was an avid reader. She loved acting, poetry, computers and languages. She enjoyed many different sports, including softball, tennis, golf, skiing and others. Donya enjoyed being in nature which took her camping across the nation and in China. She loved researching Family History and in doing Genealogy. She enjoyed playing the trombone, and had a lot of fun helping family and friends solve problems. Most of all, she loved working in her garden. She was honored and excited to return to Utah in 2014 and take over her grandmother’s enormous garden. Her children, needless to say, were much less enthused about its size.

Donya’s passion for community involvement led her to rewarding stints as President of the American Theater in Hong Kong, member of the Smithfield Utah Historical Society, member of the Smithfield Lion’s Club (her participation earned her the Lion’s Club volunteer-of-the-year award), and as an Executive Board and founding member of the Cache Garden Club.

Her father, Errol Murray Gardiner, preceded her in death. Survivors include her husband, Lance; mother LeiMomi Jean Watts Gardiner, mother-in-law Irene Joyce Peterson Harvey, and children: Jeremy Bozhi Harvey, Marc Yuwei Harvey, Melissa Yuhsien Harvey Call (Ryan Neil), Michelle Fuping Harvey, MaPhew Yi-de Harvey and foster sons DJ Bierly, and Grayson Green.

A viewing for Donya will be held on Friday, July 11 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Nelson Funeral Home located at 85 N Main St, Smithfield, Utah. A second viewing will be held Saturday, July 12 from 9:30 to 10:30 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints chapel located at 660 W 220 N Smithfield, Utah with the funeral directly following at 11 am. Burial will take place at the Smithfield, Utah cemetery, 300 E Center St, Smithfield, Utah. After the burial, all are invited to join with us for lunch at the same location the funeral was held. Donya loved hosting big parties. We have planned one just for her.

Donya’s husband, children and extended family wish to extend their most heartfelt gratitude to the caring staffs at the Logan Regional Hospital Gosner Cancer Center, McKay-Dee Hospital and hospice staff in Ogden Utah and all the friends, neighbors and associates who have reached out to us with words and deeds of kindness and concern. Your love and support have helped us begin to navigate this incredible loss.