Laura Jean Donovan

Laura Jean Donovan passed away June 24, 2025, at St. Mary’s Hospital, Grand Junction Colorado. She was 76 years old. A memorial service will be held at Taylor Funeral Service, Delta, Colorado at 11:00 am August 8, 2025.

Laura was born January 14, 1949, in Delta, Colorado to Kathleen (Rowell) Hawkins and John W. Hawkins. She grew up on her parents’ farm on Redlands Mesa in Delta County and attended school in Hotchkiss, Colorado, graduating in 1967. Laura attended college at Colorado Northwestern Community College in Rangely, Colorado.

In 1968, Laura married Jack Jandreau. The marriage ended in divorce. In 1989, she married Donald Donovan. They enjoyed 20 years together until Don’s death in 2009.

Don and Laura initially made their home in Kittredge, Colorado, near Evergreen. Don was an accomplished stage actor and magician, and together he and Laura were active in the Evergreen Players theater company, participating in several productions. In 2001, they moved to Delta, Colorado. Together they presented magic shows, entertaining many children and adults. Laura served as the traditional magician’s glamorous female assistant, many times disappearing in a puff of smoke, or being sawed in half by Don, only to appear magically whole again.

Laura had other vocations as well. As a young woman she spent time in Hawaii working as a tour guide for a major pineapple producer. She took on a deep tan, and people would mistake her for a native Hawaiian. In 1999 Laura joined software publisher JD Edwards and became the editor of JDE-Tips, an in-house magazine. She continued in that position until her retirement in 2018.

Laura Jean was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, and a nephew David (Karen) Hawkins. She is survived by sister Sharon MacKendrick of Grants, New Mexico and brother Dan (Helen) Hawkins of Grand Junction, Colorado.

Laura had no children but was adored and respected by surviving nephews Michael Hawkins of Dubai, U.A.E., John MacKendrick of Colonial Heights, Virginia, and Lawrence MacKendrick of Redlands Mesa in Delta County, Colorado, along with nieces Alice Broscheid of Tucson AZ and Janet Prewett of Grants, NM.

Arrangements are under the care and direction of Taylor Funeral Service and Crematory.