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Donna Louise Watts was born on February 24, 1948, to Mary Leona Watts and Robert Parker Watts in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Her family resided in Carbondale, Oklahoma until she was three and then lived in Skiatook before moving back to Tulsa when she was six years old. Donna attended Lowell Elementary through the fourth grade when her family moved to Berryhill for one year. They then moved to Sperry where she attended school until graduation where she was the Salutatorian. Donna formed an early love for softball and basketball. Her softball team was very successful, winning the State Championship in 1964. She was also an All-Conference basketball player. Her other interests were cheerleading and writing for the school newspaper receiving an award for a feature article at Tulsa University press day.
It was her freshman year that she started dating a tall, talented basketball player named Ronald Ward. They dated on and off through high school and were engaged in her senior year. Following graduation Donna went to work at Loffland Brothers Drilling. Ron and Donna began their lives together on June 30, 1967. They moved to Norman where Ron received a baseball scholarship at OU. The next summer while living back in Sperry, they learned they were going to be blessed with their first son. Gregory was born January 23, 1969 in Weatherford, Oklahoma.
After Greg was born, they moved to Tahlequah where Ron graduated. He was soon coaching and teaching at Sperry High School. A year and a half later he was sent into training and active duty with the National Guard. Upon his return, while living in Sperry, they welcomed their second son Jason on April 28, 1972.
Ron completed his master's degree, and was later hired at Owasso High School as a teacher and coach. After spending six wonderful years in Owasso forming lifelong friendships with the other coaches and their wives, they both received Christ as their Savior. Most of the coaches and their wives attended First Baptist Church and grew in their relationships with Christ and their friends. In 1979, we decided to move to Cleveland with his friend Ron Wolf. Donna worked at Osage Oil and eventually went to work at the middle school and then the high school. They felt blessed to raise their boys in Cleveland where they received a great education from excellent teachers and had the opportunity to excel in sports. Both sons were great basketball players, coached by their dad, both receiving baseball scholarships.
Donna's favorite past times were reading, cooking, fishing, traveling, especially to Colorado and watching her sons, then her grandsons compete in athletics and perform in concerts where Levin excelled in playing guitar. She also enjoyed watching Valen and Sajin playing sports. Donna was also fortunate to see Jaren graduate with a degree in engineering from OSU, as well as Jackson's graduation from high school and pursuing his degree in communications.
Donna played a lot of tennis in her 20's and 30's and told Ron when he wanted to move to Cleveland, she wasn't going anywhere until she saw a lighted tennis court. That passion was soon replaced by watching her sons play basketball and baseball. In 1999, Ron retired from Oklahoma education and decided to move to Kansas to coach. After four years in Columbus, Kansas the draw of grandkids brought us back to Oklahoma. Donna and Ron returned to Cleveland in 2016 where they have continued to reside.
Donna spent many years teaching Sunday School, attending Falls Creek as a cook, and giving of herself and time to serving God. She also knew the most answers to Jeopardy.
Survivors include her husband Ron of the home, two sons Greg E. Ward and his wife Tami of Cleveland, Oklahoma, Jason Ward and his wife Kelley of Owasso, Oklahoma, one brother David Watts and his wife Cindy of Sperry, Oklahoma, one sister Glenda Holcomb of Sperry, Oklahoma; five grandsons Jaren, Jackson, Levin, Valen and Sajin Ward and a host of other relatives and friends. In addition to her parents Donna is preceded in death by her sister Sharon Maybee.
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