Obituary of Donna Joyce Thomason
Donna Joyce (Johnston) Thomason was born July 4, 1951 in Tulsa, OK to Joseph Burton Johnston, Jr. and Joyce Violet (Watts) Johnston and passed from this life, surrounded by family, on November 4, 2022 at the age of 71.
Donna attended Owasso Public Schools from first grade until she graduated in 1969 at which she launched her career in technology. She retired after 45 years with various IT departments, the last one being ONEOK as an IT Director. She loved traveling with her husband Frank to their favorite spots in Texas and Louisiana. She was so loving, caring, giving, compassionate, kind-hearted, and loved helping others. She loved dining out with friends and co-workers, even staying in touch after she retired. She liked long walks in the neighborhood visiting with those nearby. She was such a joy to be around.
Donna was the glue that held her family together after the death of their mother in 1994. She assumed the mantle of matriarch and gathered her siblings around her on a regular basis with weekly phone conversations and regular sibling lunches and dinners. She was the best big sister a person could wish for and wore her heart on her sleeve. She also strived to keep the “Age 55 and Over” group of the Johnston clan close to her by organizing quarterly gatherings for food and fellowship to which we all looked forward to.
Spring was a flurry of activity at Thomason house. The hummingbirds arrived. So from May until October the hummers became the first priority; to make sure they had fresh sweet sugar water to keep them happy. Some days there would be more than a dozen at the feeding station. The native birds that visited the feeders year round knew they were loved. They knew where to go to get their belly full. They never lacked for something to eat. A momma wren for the past few years built her nest in a hanging pot with artificial ivy. But last summer she built her nest in an empty can sitting on a garden workbench. Donna had a beautiful butterfly garden full of purple phlox in the summers. The butterflies would hang around all summer and at some point she would spot 25 to 50 at the same time.
One of Donna's Christmas traditions was baking a pecan pie for all the men (her brother and brother-in-laws). The first year, the guys noticed a slice was gone from each pie. Well, she said that was her husband, Frank's doing. By the time she took a slice from each pie, Frank ended up with a whole pecan pie. Frank rarely attended sibling luncheons but Donna would think of him and take him something special. Key lime pie was his favorite.
Donna will be missed by all who knew her. May we all cherish the memories we have of her. Rest in peace, Donna. You are gone but will not be forgotten.
Her funeral will be held 10:00 a.m. Thursday, November 10, at Ninde Brookside Chapel and she will be laid to rest at the Morris Cemetery, Morris, OK. In lieu of flowers donations may be made in Donna’s memory to the Alzheimer’s Foundation at www.alzfdn.org
Ninde Brookside, 918-742-5556, www.ninde.com
