Donna Kay Felps

Donna Kay Felps (Maenius), 76, passed away peacefully in her home on July 1, 2025 surrounded by loved ones, family, and friends. Donna, the daughter of Werner and Edna Maenius, was born in Fredericksburg, TX, on May 21, 1949.

Donna spent her early childhood and began school in Blanco, TX. Her family moved to Johnson City where she began the fifth grade. Being of strong German descent, Donna struggled speaking English in first grade. Donna grew up to love sports and athletics. She loved sharing memories about her basketball and track days. Especially talking about her relay teams, which included her younger sister Myra, and their advancement to the State track meet every year. After graduation, she attended Austin Business School, until she obtained jobs with the City of Austin Police Department, then with the State School for the mentally challenged. Working with the kids at the state school was easily her favorite. She left there to move back to Johnson City and began work as the personal secretary for the General Manager of PEC. On August 29, 1970, she married Thomas M. Felps. Together they purchased the local western wear store and with the help of family and friends, they ran T&D Western Wear for many years.

Donna loved to laugh. If it wasn’t her latest joke making you laugh, it was her uncanny ability to mispronounce words and last names. Donna always enjoyed being surrounded by family and friends, whether it be in the kitchen cooking, playing a heated game of 42, or just relaxing on the porch. If you ever attended a parade during the Blanco County Fair and Rodeo, you heard the loud music, watched the dancing, whooping and hollering on one of her award winning “Best in the Parade” floats. Float building was serious business in our house! From every nail, staple, and piece of tin, to the costumes and parade “performance”, she demanded perfection. Winning “Best Parade Float” many years in Fredericksburg was always top on her lists. Donna loved to hunt and fish. She was always up for a fishing trip. She could spend hours in a blind just watching deer and spent most evenings sitting on her porch enjoying all the deer and turkey coming to the feeder. She never seemed to shoot many… seeing the “huge bucks” walking up always seemed to make her too nervous to shoot. Many things brought joy and laughter to Donna’s life. But, her greatest happiness came from being an “Oma” to her three beautiful grandchildren. It didn't matter if it was sitting in a mud puddle making mud pies, playing Sorry or Go Fish, dyeing Easter eggs, or making Christmas cookies, any time spent with them was her favorite. She enjoyed watching her grandchildren growing up, participating in sports and showing cattle.

Donna was preceded in death by her mother and father Werner and Edna Maenius, her sister Myra Haynes, and brother Boysie Maenius.

Donna is survived by her husband, Thomas Felps; son, Myron Felps; daughter, Tatum Craig and husband Garrett Craig. Three grandchildren Anna Craig, Ava Craig, Preston Craig; and Numerous nieces, nephews, great nephews, and cousins.