Donna Sue Hammons

Donna Sue Hammons, 82, of Noble passed away Sunday, February 1, 2026. She was born May 4, 1943, in Glendale, CA to DeWitt and Faye (Sellars) Whitwell. After the war, her family returned to Miami, OK where she grew up, graduating from Miami High School and NEO Junior College. Donna enjoyed many activities and clubs during high school and junior college, especially cheerleading and drama.

Donna married the love of her life Ronald Dean Hammons on July 14, 1963 in Miami. After a brief stay in Houston, Donna and Ronnie moved to Norman to attend OU. After college, they lived in a variety of places during Ron’s career with the Air Force, settling back in Norman when he was stationed at Tinker. They raised their two daughters in Norman, then later moved to Noble. They were active in First Baptist Church Norman and loved attending their grandchildren’s sports and activities as well as following OU sports.

Donna earned a BA in English and a Master’s in Reading from OU. She taught Language Arts and Reading for 30 years at Longfellow Middle School in Norman and James Griffith Intermediate Elementary in Choctaw-Nicoma Park. She was recognized as Teacher of the Year at both schools.

Donna volunteered with the Girl Scouts, Acteens, and Friendship International and taught Sunday School. She loved teaching, reading, watching movies, and she loved dolls. Having granddaughters was an excuse to buy more dolls and doll clothes! She loved crafts, painting, sewing, and quilting – her quilted bags became popular with her friends and others who saw them. She made hundreds of quilted bags and was still making them until her health declined.

During retirement, Donna and Ronnie enjoyed traveling to the beach, going on an Alaskan cruise, and taking trips to the west coast and to the mountains. They especially enjoyed trips with her brother and his wife and with her cousin Linda and husband Robert. Donna and Linda were especially close, having grown up together as the daughters of twins.

Donna was preceded in death by her parents and her husband Ronald. She is survived by her daughters, Dedra (Philip) Redwine, and J. Kythe Walkswithwind (Bernta); granddaughters, Hayley (Lucas) Goodspeed (and great grandbaby coming in May) and Brooke (Matt) Helm, grandson, Trace Redwine; brother, Tom (Sara) Whitwell; sister-in-law, Diane Hammons; nephews, Trevor (Donnell) Hammons and children, and Jordan Blalock; niece Jessica (Brandon) Loecker; her Whitwell and Sellars cousins; many teacher friends, neighbors, and church friends, including the ladies of Sallie Kennedy’s Sunday School class. Special thanks to her longtime friend Alice McGrew, Susan Warren of her Sunday School class, Sarah Redwine, Diane Hammons, and her grandchildren for faithfully visiting her in the nursing home. Thank you to Hayley and Lucas for the regular Sunday visits with Braum’s malts. Thank you to her roommate Fay for her friendship while Donna was at Grace and to Fay’s son Kerry for the milkshakes. Thank you to the staff of Grace Skilled Nursing Center for caring for Donna during her last two years.

Services will be scheduled at a later date.