1943-2024

Donna Estelle (Rufener) Brown was a beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, daughter, sister, aunt, and wife during her incredible 81 years of life. She passed away peacefully in the early hours of Sunday, December 22, 2024.  She was a strong Christian woman and her family finds peace and comfort in knowing that she is in the eternal presence of her Heavenly Father.

Donna was born in Glendale, California, on July 31, 1943, to loving parents Estelle and Elwyn Rufener.  Her father was an aircraft mechanic and her mother was a homemaker.  Donna and her three sisters were raised in Pacoima and Lake View Terrace, California.  After graduation from San Fernando High School in 1961, she moved to Houston, Texas to live with her cousin.  Her entire family soon followed her and settled in and around Spring, Texas.  Donna enrolled in Sam Houston State University in 1963, where she met her future husband and father of her three children, Bobby Brown. They were married in August 1964, and lived in Dayton, Texas.  After the birth of their three children, Gary, Robert, and Kimberly, the family moved to Daingerfield, Texas in 1970, where they lived and raised their children.  In 1972, Donna began a 30 year career working as a teacher’s aide at West Elementary School in Daingerfield, where she developed many lifelong friendships with her colleagues.  The family moved to a farm near Cason, TX, in 1977, where she would spend the next thirty years of her life.   Donna was a member of First Baptist Church Cason where she attended with her family, and taught Sunday School for three decades.  In addition to her roles as a teacher, wife, and mother, she loved to spend time reading, gardening, sewing, and crafting.  After retirement, Donna moved to the Houston area to live with her son, Robert.  She lived her final years in Tyler, Texas, spending as much time as possible with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

Donna was preceded in death by her parents, Estelle and Elwyn Rufener, of Spring, Texas; older sister, Colleen Norton, of Conroe, Texas; and youngest sister, Arleen Malone, of Humble, Texas.  She is survived by her younger sister, Darlene Rufener, of Conroe, Texas; children: Gary Brown (and wife, Melinda), of Tyler, Texas; Robert Brown, of Tyler, Texas, and Kimberly Brown, of Nacogdoches, Texas; grandchildren:  Lanie Rumbo (and husband, Taylor), Haley Brown, Katie Jones (and husband, TJ), Bailey Bowyer, Reid Bowyer, and Ryan Bowyer;  great-grandsons:  Baker Rumbo, Turner Rumbo, Crosby Rumbo, and Levi Jones; nieces and nephews:  Ramie Cooksey, Kelly Roberson, Donna Morgan, Tracy McDonnell, Courtney Carter, Cassie Solis, Chad Malone, David Berry, Tempie Swaner, and Tony Berry.

She loved her family unconditionally and will be fondly remembered by the many lives she touched.

A memorial service will be held at a time and location to be determined.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations by loved ones be made to their local church.