Donna Jane Hale

Donna Jane Bryan Hale of Shreveport, Louisiana passed away on the morning of November 23, 2021, surrounded by members of her family. She endured, with grace and a positive attitude, major setbacks in her health one after another for 18 years. Up until her last moments with family, she was aware of the humorous and happy stories being shared by those gathered around her, and she said clearly "I remember that" and would chuckle.
Donna was born on January 19, 1931 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
She was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Don Bryan. She graduated from Will Rogers High School in Tulsa and attended Oklahoma A&M University (now Oklahoma State University) where she was a member of Pi Beta Phi sorority.
Donna married Danny Carl Hale in Raton, New Mexico on August 23, 1952. They lived in Tyler, Texas and Evergreen, Colorado where they raised their four children. After their children went off to school they lived in Los Gatos, California, in Shreveport three years, then in Georgetown, Texas for 23 years. They made numerous friends in Georgetown where they were active in their community and church, volunteering their time and serving in various roles with their church. They were especially fond of a ministry to children of incarcerated parents. In 2021, Dan and Donna moved back to Shreveport to live in The Savannah at the Oaks.
Donna was known to her family as "Mimi". Her main love was spending time with her children, grandchildren, and in her later years, her great-grandchildren. On the night before her passing she told her son, Mike, "you kids were so much fun."
Donna was always optimistic and even through the many health issues she faced over the past 18 years, she never let it affect her attitude or disposition towards others. This came from her enduring faith in God and Christ. Mimi has a wonderful relationship with God and was confident in her salvation through Jesus Christ. Both Papa and Mimi spoke openly of their faith, and often took the time to share the hope that comes from faith in Christ. At the end of each phone call with their family, both Mimi and Papa would tell their loved ones "We pray for you every night and we love you."
Mimi had a great since of humor. When she lost her hair during chemotherapy her son-in-law gave her an Oklahoma State "skull cap" like the OSU football players wear under their helmets. She donned it with good humor and fun and chose to see the sunny side of things.
For as long as they were physically able, Donna and Don were active, and enjoyed playing golf and tennis, they also loved to travel. During their brief stint in Shreveport in the mid-90's, Dan and Donna were members of Shreveport Country Club, where Mimi took extra special care to make sure each player's shot was counted accurately with her "handy" shot counting device on her wrist. There were no mulligans with Mimi. During this time, she also introduced her Shreveport grandchildren to this lifetime sport, and at times, allowed them to drive the golf cart.
Donna was preceded in death by her parents, her son, Steven Bryan Hale, her daughter-in-law, Michelle Schnakenberg Hale, her sister Betty Bryan Brooke and brother-in-law Rupert Brooke. Reuniting in heaven with her son Steve, who passed when he was 28 and Donna was 52, was surely a joyous occasion after living 39 years without him. She would often say, "I use to think when I get to heaven the first thing I will ask God is why Steve was taken away from us so young, but now I know that when I get to heaven it won't even matter, because we will be together again and we will be with our heavenly father".
Donna is survived by her husband of 69 years, Dan, her son Kevin Hale of Phoenix, Arizona, her son Michael Hale and wife Leah of Houston, Texas, her daughter, Kathy Lamb and husband Richard of Shreveport; grandchildren Calhan Hale of Austin, Texas, Mason Hale of New York, New York, Rich Lamb and wife Ginny, of Shreveport, Spencer Lamb and wife Allison, of Shreveport, Christian Lamb and wife Michelle, of Dallas, Texas, and Kappy Lamb; her great-grandchildren, Virginia Lamb, Chip Lamb, George Lamb, Martha Lamb, and Henry Lamb.
The family would like to express their sincere appreciation to Dr. Corky Davis, Amanda Lewis, FNP-C, Lance Tucker, her physical therapist, Louisiana HomeCare, the staff of the Savannah at the Oaks in Shreveport, the doctors and nurses of the Emergency Room at Willis-Knighton Pierremont, Balentine Ambulance Services, and the staff at The Carpenter's House at St. Joseph's Hospice in Shreveport. Each of these people contributed to the comfort and care of Mimi.
The family requests that memorials be made to Wreaths Across America at www.wreathsacrossamerica.org or other charity of donor's choice.