LaDonna Irene Burkitt's Obituary
LaDonna Irene Burkitt was born January 31, 1950 Laverne, Oklahoma, to Jesse Jackson (Jack) and Genevie Gillespie Hester. She passed
to her eternal home after a brave battle with Alzheimer's and Breast Cancer on December 11, 2023.
LaDonna moved multiple times as her father was a Construction Superintendent for a food store chain, but returned to her home town, Laverne, Oklahoma graduated from Laverne High School in 1968 and went on to earn her Bachelor's Degree in Special Education of Oklahoma University and her Master's Degree at Northeastern State University. She was deeply devoted to her work and her students, teaching middle school and high school Special Education at multiple schools before retiring. Twenty-three years after graduating together from Laverne High School, she married Jerry Burkitt on October 26, 1991. They spent the following years raising her children: Jason and Lindsey and enjoying their precious grandchildren: Jake, Mina and Bella. The couple shared an immense love for their dogs, raising many together throughout the years as well.
LaDonna will be remembered for her kindness, joy and devotion to others. She was a passionate educator, a devoted mother and wife, a loving Nana and a beloved sister. Her kindness never wavered even when her health did. You never left her presence without a compliment! LaDonna loved all kinds of music and was known to be singing and dancing often! Her fun, loving presence will be deeply missed.
She is survived by her husband Jerry of 32 years; daughter Linsey Briggs and husband Jason; grandchildren, Jake, Mina and Bella Arias; brother Verl Hester and wife Judy; sister Jacklyn Hester Jones and partner, James Palastak; sisters-in-law, Beverly Hester and Kim Lotspeich. She is also survived by nieces and nephews, Jess Hester, Sherri Jo Gallagher, Dr. Jan Hester, Kim Lloyd, Kami Kilburn, Kerri Lyle, Kathi McLean, Rob Sells, Jennifer Unruh, Lauren Miller and Parker Lotspeich as well as many great nieces and nephews.
She was reunited in heaven with her parents, Jack and Genevie Hester; son Jason Joseph Tackwell and sister Vonda Lloyd Rogers.
A Celebration of Life service will be held 10:00 AM, Tuesday, January 02, 2024, at Floral Haven Funeral Home Chapel, in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma.
If anyone can not attend the service, the service can be watched at the following link:
https://webcast.funeralvue.com/events/northstar/95764/hash:02BFAADC3A292504
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