Obituary of Donna Kay Phelps

Donna Kay Phelps, age 76, went to her Heavenly home on January 18th, 2024, in Ardmore, Oklahoma. She was surrounded by her family as she passed from this life into eternity. Funeral services will be held at 10:30am, Tuesday, January 23, 2024, in The Chapel at Griffin~ Hillcrest with Pastor David Morrow Officiating. Interment to follow in Hillcrest Memorial Park. She was born on February 11, 1947, in Gilroy, California to Walter Louis Holbrook and Beatrice Semore Holbrook. Donna attended Lincoln Elementary School, Mt. Washington Elementary, and Dickson Public School. She completed the 11th grade, and then moved to Marine, Illinois after marrying the love of her life, Alton Phelps. She lived in Ardmore for most of her life. When her mother, “Bea” passed away unexpectedly, Donna willingly and passionately assumed the role as mother to her siblings. Anyone who knew Donna knew that her family was always the top priority. Donna and Alton met as teenagers and eventually married on September 7, 1965. They loved (and liked) each other for 41 years. The couple spent their years laughing together, loving each other, and loving everyone who met them so well. In 2007, Alton’s death separated them. They had one daughter, Penny Phelps Elliott. Donna dedicated her life to Jesus Christ as a teenager. As an outpouring of her faithful love to the Lord, she found joy in serving others. Her primary love language was cooking food for anyone who was hungry (or wasn’t)! She was famous for all her dishes, but her family fondly brags on her desserts including peanut butter balls, chocolate pie, and banana pudding. Donna was also famous for her funny and sassy personality, and one of her famous quotes when she dined out of her home was, “Well, it wasn’t nothin to write home about.” Donna cared deeply for people, and this was her best attribute. Though she had only one biological child, she acted as a mother figure for countless others including Cece Weaver, Stephanie Ellis, Wesley Pack, Samantha Presley, Andrea Mersiovsky, Jr. Hutson, and Andy Hutson. She also served in caregiving roles through her employment at Hickory Creek Child Center, Gloria Ainsworth Daycare, and she ran her own daycare business from home. Donna was surrounded by a crowd of friends. Her best friends include Patricia Knight, Barbara Ellis, Bernice Smith, Cheryl Morton Vernon, and the late Carolyn Morton. She enjoyed going shopping, watching movies at home, eating Mexican food, and talking on the phone with people she loved for hours on end. Donna was also famous for her glamorous garage sales. She would wake up in the wee hours of the morning and set up her garage and driveway with items friends and family would bring to her house to sell. She found joy in these events, and it became something that her and her grandchildren would look forward to putting on every summer. Donna is survived by her siblings Larry Holbrook and wife Lois, Reatha Bass and husband Mark, LeeAnn Rutledge and husband Rodney, Marlean Dunn, Wally Hollbrook, sister-in-law Sharon Phelps, and brother-in-law Joe Phelps. She is also survived by her daughter Penny Elliott and husband Greg, and her chosen daughter, Cece Weaver and husband, Ron. She is survived by her grandchildren Jordan Elliott, Destinee Elliott, and Alivia Elliott, as well as her chosen grandchildren Ronnie and Monica Weaver. She has one great grandchild, Journey Elaine Elliott. Donna is survived by several nieces and nephews including: Kane Bass, Jon Holbrook, Danny Holbrook, Danny Phillips, Anissa Morrow, Winter Bass Pickens, Hayley Holbrook, Sheila Needham, Lavonda Pinnick, Elizabeth Stidham, Sheila Harris, and various others. She is survived by her great niece Miley Bass and great nephew, Hudson Bass. Donna is preceded in death by her parents Walter and “Bea” Holbrook, her husband Alton, her sister Oleada Stidham, and her brother Keith Holbrook. Pallbearers: Kane Bass, Tyler Morrow, Devon Morrow, Seth Morrow, Everett Pickens, and Ron Weaver. Honorary pallbearers: Mark Bass, Jon Holbrook, Wally Holbrook, Rodney Rutledge, Danny Holbrook, Jordan Elliott, and Ronnie Weaver. In lieu of flowers, if you would like to make a monetary donation, proceeds will be given to Cross Timbers Hospice and the Ardmore Animal Shelter. Visitation will be held from 6:00 pm until 8:00 pm, on Monday, January 22, 2024, at Griffin~Hillcrest Funeral Home.