Donna Jo West

The Celebration of Life for Donna Jo West, of Bonham, Texas will be held at 5:00 p.m. Sunday, September 21, 2025, at Wise Funeral Home in Bonham, Texas. An exhibit of her art will be on display following the celebration at the Creative Arts Center in Bonham, Texas.

Donna fought her illness in true Donna fashion with grit, toughness, and determination until the end. She passed peacefully in her home on Wednesday morning, August 27, 2025, surrounded by family and her beloved animals. Donna was born on October 29, 1957, in Austin, Texas, the only child of Don James West and Billie Jo Langford West. She graduated from Allen High School in 1975, and earned her Associate’s Degree in Advertising Art from Collin College. Donna was a professional photographer for many years, and she went on to successfully start, run,and own multiple businesses throughout her career.

Donna lived life to the fullest! Her passions extended into so many different areas from earning her black belt in Tai Kwan Do, painting, photography, and theatre. She was an active member of the Creative Arts Center in Bonham, and she served on the board for many years and directed the Kidz Krew program from 2009-2010, and helped lead summer art camp, children’s theatre, and reader’s theatre.

Donna was an award-winning artist; she won Best of Show in Photography at the Fannin County Fair in 1999, first place in Acrylic at the Creative Arts Center in August of 2014, the People’s Choice Award at the Magnolia Festival Art Show in 2015, and First Place in Photography at the Creative Arts Center in 2019. She also won Honorable Mention in Non-Portrait Painting at the Paris Art Fair in 2015, and Second Place in Non-Portrait Photography at the Paris Art Fair in 2015. She was in the inaugural play of the Red River Theatre Company “The Trouble with Summer People.” She went on to participate in many productions with the Red River Theatre Company including “Arsenic and Old Lace”, “The Odd Couple”, “Nunsense”, “Hopalong Cassidy Meets The Ghost Riders”, “Sentimental Journey”, “The Miracle Worker”, “After A Fashion”, “Mules and Rouge”, “Ten Little Indians”, and performed in “The Aurelia Women’s League Flower and Garden Show” twice. 

Donna had her first horse as a teenager, and she has owned horses ever since then. She has always loved to ride horses and has ridden in several Rodeo Grand Entries. Donna loved cats and dogs from a young age, and she was known to have never turned away a stray. Her animals brought her great joy and comfort. Donna was a die-hard Cowboys and Dak fan, and she attended the Dak Prescott Women’s Clinic multiple times, and every practice and game she could. Donna also supported the Chiefs, due to Patrick Mahomes’ Texas ties and exciting play making abilities.

Donna loved her family and friends, especially her only child Jaime. Donna was an incredible Mother. Donna and Jaime spent many fun times together at basketball games, football games, cheering on the Baylor Bears, concerts, and traveling to many places, including Donna and Jaime’s favorite: the mountains. Donna was the kind of person that truly loved to help people, whether through intelligent ideas, thoughtful suggestions, or sometimes even tough love. Her dry sense of humor and willingness to laugh about anything made her an absolute joy to spend time with. Donna was never shy with her feelings, and she spoke straight from the heart. Donna truly lived out her faith the way Jesus said we should, by loving people like He did. She let her actions demonstrate her faith through her support for loved ones, grace, and the humble way she lived her life.

Donna is preceded in death by her parents Don and Billie West. She is survived by her daughter, Jaime Mulder of Dallas, Texas and numerous friends that have become family.