Donna Marie (Laffey) Isler

Donna Marie Isler
November 1, 1944 ~ May 23, 2026

Donna Laffey Isler was born on November 1, 1944, in Orlando, Florida, to James and Jeanette Laffey of Ocala,
Florida. She was raised in Ocala and graduated from Ocala High School in 1962. Donna continued her education
at St. Leo College in St. Leo, Florida, before relocating to New York City in 1964. In New York, she secured a
position as secretary to the personnel director at NBC Studios at 30 Rockefeller Center, where she had the
opportunity to meet several notable figures.

Among the distinguished individuals Donna encountered was Elvis Presley, who recognized her from their
previous meeting in Ocala in 1961 during the filming of "Follow That Dream." Later, Donna returned to Florida
and joined NASA at Cape Canaveral as an engineering secretary, contributing to both the Gemini and Apollo
programs. During her tenure, she worked alongside numerous astronauts, including Neil Armstrong, Gus
Grissom, John Young, Buzz Aldrin, and James Lovell.

Following her time at NASA, Donna met all security requirements to serve as a document, physical, and
personnel security professional on various engineering programs at Harris Corporation in Melbourne, Florida.
She dedicated many years to Harris while balancing her responsibilities as a single mother to her daughters,
Crystal and Jennifer.

In 1987, Donna relocated with Crystal and Jennifer to El Segundo, California, to continue her career in security
with Ultra Systems in Redondo Beach. Settling into their new life on the West Coast, Donna and her daughters
quickly adapted to their community.

That same year, Donna met then Army Captain Jack Isler, whom she later married on April 15, 1988, in a
ceremony held in the gazebo in El Segundo. Notably, while Jack retained an Army Top Secret SCI Secret
clearance, Donna held multiple Top Secret clearances, including polygraph certifications, with the Air Force and
other 3 letter federal agencies.

Throughout their 37-year marriage, Donna, Jack, and the family traveled extensively, residing in Maxwell AFB,
Alabama, returning to El Segundo, then moving to Fort Hood, Texas, the Presidio of Monterey, California, and
Sierra Vista, Arizona.

Donna took great pride in her daughters’ accomplishments, ensuring they completed their college education and
were equipped for success. She is survived by her husband, LTC (R) Jack; her daughters, Crystal Anderson
(Justin) and Jennifer Snowe (Paul Valadao); and four grandchildren: Colin and Callie Colfer of Niceville, Florida,
and Charles and Samuel Valadao of San Luis Obispo, California.

Donna was preceded in death by her parents and three brothers, Michael, Mathew, and David.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, June 19, 2026 at 10:30 AM at Our Lady of the Mountain's Catholic
Church, located at 1425 E Yaqui Street, Sierra Vista, Arizona 85650. A private interment will take place at the 
Southern Arizona Veterans' Memorial Cemetery at a later date.

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