Donna Kay Browder, 66, of Lorena, Texas, passed away peacefully on Sunday, September 6, 2026, in the presence of two of her very best friends, her husband and her mom.

Donna was born on April 26, 1960, at Darnall Army Medical Center in Fort Hood, Texas, to Woody and Velma Thurmond. She graduated from Lamesa High School in 1979.

On June 25th, 1982, Donna married her best friend and one true love, Patrick Browder at First Baptist Church of Lorena. Although they did not get married until ‘82, they met when they were just 15 and 16 years old at T’s Skating rink and their love brought them back together years later. Together, they built a life centered on faith and family, spending most of their years in Lorena, where they raised their two children, Josh and Shaunta.

Donna faced many adversities throughout her life, but she met each one with strength and determination. Before being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, she completed her certification to own and operate a daycare and dreamed of one day opening one of her own. Although MS changed those plans, it never changed Donna’s desire to care for others. Instead, she found other ways to spend her life helping, serving, and loving the people God placed around her.

Donna loved the Lord deeply and had a servant’s heart. Her children remember seeing her read her Bible every chance she got, and her faith was evident not only in what she believed, but in the way she treated people. She was kind to everyone she encountered and had a special place in her heart for those who needed someone to care for them.

She served as a Sunday School teacher for the three and four year old class at First Baptist Church of Lorena, sharing her love for children and her faith with some of the church’s youngest members.

That same love for helping others was evident throughout her work. Donna was a caregiver for Wood and Zelma Johnson, often arriving before they woke in the morning and staying until she had helped put them to bed at night. She cooked, cleaned, and tended to their needs with the same care she would have given her own family.

Donna also worked as an aide in the Life Skills classroom at Lorena High School, where she cared for and supported students with special needs. For Donna, caring for others was never simply a job. She truly loved the people entrusted to her care. She wanted every person she helped to know that they mattered, that they were special, and that they were loved.

More than anything, Donna loved her family. She didn’t need a special occasion or an elaborate plan, she simply wanted to be together. She loved playing cards and games with her mom, visiting with her sisters, having girls’ days with Cindy, working Christian crossword puzzles, and singing karaoke with her husband and family.

Some of the family’s favorite memories are the traditions and moments Donna made special simply by being Donna. Halloween meant her awesome, elaborate costumes and decorations. If one of her children had a school project, she was ready to jump in and help. There were trips to church camp at Glorieta, New Mexico, family karaoke nights, and Christmas mornings spent together year after year. These weren’t just activities to Donna; they were opportunities to make memories with the people she loved most.

That love only grew when she became Nana.

Donna was the kind of Nana who rarely, if ever, said no to babysitting. Her old daycare skills came right back as she helped prepare her grandchildren for school, making sure they practiced their letters, numbers, and reading whether they wanted to or not. She loved watching them learn and grow, but she especially loved simply being their Nana.

And if one of her children or grandchildren had a sporting event, Donna was going to be there. It didn’t matter how far she had to travel, how long the day might be, or what the weather was like. She showed up, cheered loudly, and made sure they knew their Nana was in the stands. She was one of their biggest fans and was immensely proud of each of them.

Donna’s life was defined not by the challenges she faced, but by the way she loved through them. She loved the Lord. She loved her husband. She loved her children and grandchildren. She loved her parents, sisters, extended family, friends, and the many people she cared for throughout her life. She had a gift for making people feel special, and she leaves behind a lifetime of memories in the hearts of those who were blessed to know and love her.

Donna is survived by her husband, Patrick Browder; her parents, Woody and Velma Thurmond; her sisters, Sheila and Hilliary; her children, Josh Browder and Shaunta Wood and husband Lindy Wood; her five grandchildren, Landen, Jacob, Kirsten, Colten, and Raygen; as well as many beloved family members and friends, including her brothers and sisters-in-law.

While her family will deeply miss her presence at the card table, in the karaoke room, at sporting events, on Christmas morning, and in all the ordinary moments she made special, they are grateful for the love, faith, and memories she leaves behind.