Donna

Even by the standards of the last few years, December 2025 was a lot.

The month started with a trip to California to visit my mom in a geriatric psych ward. While I was there, my sister and I wandered into an active shooter lockdown at a nearby museum. I got home just in time to  testify against my neighbor in an attempted murder trial. Shortly after that, my father-in-law was hospitalized for several days with heart issues. Thankfully, he got better, but I finished the year with Covid.

In between all that, three people I knew died.

The first was my friend, Chris.

The second was Fabian's father, Benny.

The third was my friend, Trisha's mother, Donna.

Donna and Trisha at the Air Force Academy, 1989

Except Donna wasn't just my friend's mother. For three years while I was in college, she was basically my second mother.

Norm, Donna and Trisha at the Dixon Gallery and Gardens, 1996

After that, she was my friend.

A down to earth, no nonsense woman, Donna lived a life filled with horses, mostly Arabians, which she bred and raised with her mother and husband on their farm in Wellington, Colorado.

Donna and Amie Phoenix+, 2009

In 1981, she became the first woman to serve as the president of the Colorado Arabian Horse Club, a notable achievement at the time.

Donna's 2013 Century Club (where the age of horse and rider total at least 100 years) ride on  Amie Phoenix+ 

After three years in that position, she returned to her original career of teaching, which she did both-full time, and later as a sub, until 2020.

Donna and Norm Brown, photo by Meghan Scott Molin

Yesterday, her family, friends, coworkers and students gathered at the family farm to celebrate a life well-lived.

Despite ridiculously hot temperatures, every seat was full.

People came from far and wide to honor their friend, their colleague, their teacher.

Trish...

and her brother Russ, both educators themselves, spoke passionately and eloquently about their mother's life and legacy.

After, we were invited inside to view...

and perhaps purchase some of Donna's prized possessions.

Heh.

It was a good day, spent with some of the best people.

Rest well, Donna. I was so lucky to have you as a second mother. I was so lucky to have you as a friend.