Obituary for Donevy Lee Westphal

Donevy Lee Westphal, née Smith, went home to be with her Lord and Savior on November 5, 2026, at the age of 73. Born on June 26, 1953, Donevy lived a life defined by unwavering faith, deep devotion to her family, strength, and a love for the Lord that guided everything she did.

Above all else, Donevy was a woman of God. Her faith was not simply something she believed in; it was the foundation upon which she built her life. God came first, and her family was her greatest earthly blessing. She dedicated her life to loving, raising, teaching, and caring for those entrusted to her. Her strength was evident in the life she built and in the seven children she lovingly raised. She was a devoted wife, a steadfast mother, and a woman whose influence will continue through generations.

Donevy was known for her strong spirit, quick wit, and wonderful sense of humor. She had a way of bringing laughter into everyday moments and a strength that carried her family through life’s many seasons. She found joy in the simple but meaningful things: tending her garden, preserving the harvest through canning, preparing meals for those she loved, writing, and serving her church. Alongside her beloved husband, Chris, she also shared a heart for ministry and participated in mission trips, living out her faith through service to others.

She was a woman who loved to create, nurture, and cultivate. Whether it was tending the soil of her garden, working on the family farm, putting food on the table, or pouring into the lives of her children, Donevy understood the value of planting seeds and patiently watching them grow. She also had a gift for writing and was proud to have written and published three books, leaving behind a written legacy that will continue to be treasured.

Perhaps her greatest accomplishment, however, was the family she built. Her legacy is not measured only in the years she lived or the things she accomplished, but in the generations who will carry her love, faith, and teachings forward.

Donevy is survived by her loving husband of 54 years, Chris Westphal; her six sons, Christopher Westphal, Jabez Westphalls and his wife Raheli, Levi Westphal and his wife, Amy, Jeremy Westphal and his wife, Erina, Nathan Westphal, and Benjamin Westphal; and her daughter, Jenny Huaracha and her husband, Alex. She also leaves behind 23 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, all of whom are part of the beautiful legacy she leaves behind.

Though her earthly presence will be deeply missed, the seeds of faith, love, wisdom, and strength that she planted will continue to grow in the lives of those she leaves behind.

Donevy would want to be remembered as a woman who loved God above all else and devoted her life to her family. Her life was a testimony of faith, perseverance, and the beauty of a life surrendered to the Lord.

As Scripture reminds us in 2 Timothy 4:7:

“I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.”

Her work here is finished, but her legacy lives on. She has left an imprint on generations, and the love she gave will never be forgotten. While her family grieves her absence, they find comfort in knowing that she is home with the Lord, where there is no more sorrow, pain, or tears.

Well done, good and faithful servant.