Donna Parsons' Obituary
Donna Jean James Parsons was born on December 28, 1927, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, to Alexander Mont and Ada Magdaleine (Cooper) James. She died just two weeks short of her 91st birthday on December 13, 2018, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Donna was raised in the town of Davenport, Oklahoma.Donna had a life-long love of music. She took piano lessons from the age of five and, from a very young age, played at many of the churches in town. She particularly liked to play for the Pentecostal Church since there she could indulge in her favorite “rollicking” style of piano playing. Her father drove her all the way to the town of Chandler (seven whole miles away!) for lessons every week until she graduated from high school. She, of course, hated to practice the boring songs her teacher assigned. She would, instead, play the popular songs of the day, but slowly and “lesson like”, so that her poor tone deaf mother didn’t realize what she was doing. Donna continued playing the piano all her life. She played for pleasure and was an excellent accompanist for solo singers.Also at the age of five, Donna began tap dancing lessons and was inspired by a young tap dancing actress of the same age – Shirley Temple. She saw all of Shirley’s movies and learned all of Shirley’s routines. She took elocution lessons, as well. She was the lead in every play or musical in school and played the piano, sang, danced, and gave poetry readings at every talent show. Since the piano wasn’t an instrument that would lend itself to the high school marching band, Donna learned how to twirl a baton and became the drum majorette.Donna graduated from Davenport High School in 1945 and went on to Oklahoma A&M College in Stillwater. She graduated with a degree in Secretarial Science in 1949 and moved to the big city of Tulsa where she got a job at Stanolind Oil & Gas Company (known now as Amoco) where she made many life-long friends.In April of 1951, Donna met the love of her life, Bob Parsons. They were introduced by a mutual friend one night during a chance meeting at a downtown café. She thought he was the most exotic looking man she had ever seen and he thought she was gorgeous. It was love at first sight. They bonded immediately over their mutual love of dancing, particularly the jitter bug. Six weeks later, on May 19, 1951, Donna and Bob eloped to Arkansas. At the time of Bob’s death in 2009, they had been married 18 days shy of 58 years. Together they danced the jitter bug, square danced, played cards with friends, and attended every musical that came to town. Their yearly vacations took them to every state in the Union and twenty different countries.On November 26, 1953, their daughter, Robyn, was born. This child was loved beyond measure and they were the best parents a girl could ever hope to have. They couldn’t imagine loving anyone more than they loved their only child until May 7, 1987, when their precious granddaughter was born. Lauryn Kathleen Bohls immediately stole their hearts and they loved her with a passion. These wonderful grandparents became her best friends. At the age of 60 and 63, “Nana and Booby” began taking care of Lauryn three days a week so that she wouldn’t have to go to daycare. The bond those three forged will never be broken.Donna’s love for animals, particularly dogs, is legendary. During her lifetime, she had eleven dogs and three cats. Not included in this number are the many dogs for which she provided a vacation home. Whenever friends needed their dogs looked after, whether it was for a few days or a few months, Donna’s Pet Hotel was always open.Donna was preceded in death by her husband, Robert W. Parsons, her parents, her beloved dogs, and many friends. She leaves behind her daughter, Robyn Parsons Bohls, her granddaughter Lauryn Trepp and husband, Tyler, and her great granddaughter, Carly Kathleen Trepp. She holds a place in the hearts of many who remember her kindness, insight, empathy, humor, and her ability to find a reason to laugh in any situation.Donna’s family would like to thank Hattie and Tammy Lurks, the wonderful women who cared for Donna in her home for almost a year and loved her. The staff at Aberdeen Memory Facility, where Donna lived for over four years was superb. Finally, a million thanks to Rose Rock Hospice and Kelly Edward, RN, for the loving care given to Donna for the past year and a half. Robyn and Lauryn could not have made it through this long, difficult journey without them.In lieu of flowers, Donna’s family requests that donations be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, the American Heart Association, or a favorite charity or organization.Family requests everyone to please dress lively, no black clothing.In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to American Cancer Society or Alzheimer’s Association.
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