Mary Donna Alexander

Mary Donna Alexander was born in Henryetta, Okla., on Dec. 20, 1933, the only child of Warren Wallace and Lydia Elizabeth Hemphill.  She was proud to be a second-generation American, as her grandmother had immigrated to the United States from Wales. Mary Donna’s school years were all spent at Henryetta, where she graduated from high school in 1952. After high school, Mary Donna attended Oklahoma A&M College in Stillwater, Okla., earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Early Childhood Education through the school of Family Relations and Child Development. Graduating in 1956, she was proud to be in the last Oklahoma A&M class before the name was changed to Oklahoma State University. While at Oklahoma A&M, Mary Donna met Bob Wayne Alexander. They were married shortly after her graduation, on June 9, 1956. Mary Donna and Bob had two children, Leigh Ann (Alexander) Spencer and Stephen Wayne Alexander. Mary Donna began her teaching career in Lacey, Okla. She also taught school in Geary, Okla. While in Geary, her first child was born and she became a stay-at-home mom. While living in Enid, Okla, Mary Donna took graduate classes at Phillips University and renewed her teaching certificate. In 1969, she began teaching kindergarten at Sequoyah Elementary School in Shawnee, Okla. She taught kindergarten and fourth grade at Sequoyah until her retirement in 1998. At Sequoyah, Mary Donna met her two best friends, Nell Farris and Jeanne Mills. Mary Donna’s retirement years were spent as Grammy to the loves of her life, her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She spent much of her time at their many activities and, until her final illness, was the proud babysitter to her great-grandchildren. In early December 2012, Mary Donna became ill and was hospitalized until Feb. 13, 2013. On Feb. 14, 2013, her beloved husband, Bob, suffered a heart attack; he died on March 8, 2013. She succumbed very suddenly to her illness, joining Bob in heaven on the evening of April 22, 2013. Mary Donna was predeceased by her parents; her husband of 56 years; and her brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Jack and Freeda Alexander. She is survived by her children; her grandchildren, Katie Beth and Alex Spencer and Andrew Alexander; her great-grandchildren, Camdyn Blake and Charley Kate Sellers; her nephews and nieces, Greg Alexander and Sammy Barnes, Gary and Tricia Alexander, and Rose Delumpa-Alexander; her great-nieces, Natalie and Charlotte Delumpa-Alexander; her best friends, Nell Farris and Jeanne Mills; and her beloved Yorkie, Ellie. A viewing will be held at Swearingen Funeral Home on April 26, 2013, from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. A celebration of Mary Donna’s life will take place on Saturday, April 27, 2013, at 1:00 p.m., at Seminole First United Methodist Church. Mary Donna will be laid to her final rest at West Lawn Cemetery in Henryetta, Okla. Funeral Information: April 27, 2013, 1:00 PM First United Methodist Church located at Hwy # 9, Seminole, OK 74868