Donna Mae Porterfield passed from this life Monday, June 12, 2023, at her home in Oologah, Oklahoma, at the age of 82 years. She was the third child born August 1, 1940, in her grandfather’s home in Nelagoney, Oklahoma, to William Jason Smith and Wilma Mahan Smith. She was a twin and was born 42 minutes before her twin sister, Peggy. Both weighed 9 ½ lbs. each, setting a new state record at the time. Donna attended the first grade in Bristow, Oklahoma, and then attended the 2nd through 12th grades in Pawnee, Oklahoma. After graduation, she was employed with Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Oklahoma, Conoco Oil Company in Ponca City, Oklahoma, and General Electric in Oklahoma City. On July 12, 1963, she married John L. Porterfield in Oklahoma City. They lived in Norman, Oklahoma, while John finished college and played football for the Oklahoma Sooners. After his graduation in May of 1965, they moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma
Donna worked for Service Bureau Corporation until May of 1969. They were blessed with twin daughters, Darcy and Tracy, born September 26, 1970. In the late 1970’s she worked for Don Morgan and Associates, was a Kindergarten Aide from 1981-1985 at Oologah Public Schools and worked as an Attendance Secretary for the Owasso Public Schools in 1986 and retired in May 1997 as Secretary to the Special Education Director.
For over 40 years, Donna and John raced and bred mainly Appaloosa horses, then Quarterhorses. Since 1974, they have lived in Oologah, Oklahoma. She enjoyed all the sporting events of her daughters and then their grandchildren’s sporting events. She also enjoyed Oklahoma Sooner sports, gardening, working crossword puzzles, and her pets. She dearly loved her family, spending time with them and babysitting the grandchildren when they were young.
Donna is survived by her husband of nearly 60 years, John L. Porterfield and two daughters; Darcy Buck and husband Steve, of Owasso, Tracy Gibson and husband Joe, of Oologah; Two sisters; Marilyn Smith Fryer and husband, Henry, of Lemoore, California, and Peggy Smith Morgan, of Oologah; Four grandchildren; Leslie Gibson Barnes and husband Dalton, Hunter Gibson and wife Kenzie of Owasso, Karly Wadsworth, and Kayden Wadsworth, of Owasso; Two great granddaughters, Emmerson Gray Barnes, and Rory Mae Barnes of Collinsville, 14 nieces and nephews, 22 great and 17 great-great nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by parents, Bill and Wilma Smith, brother, Ernest Duane Smith, Sr., sister, Cheryl Smith Rowbotham, and one niece, Barbara Fryer Glyde.
Visitation will be held from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, June 14, 2023, at Mowery Funeral Service in Owasso. Funeral service will be held 10:00 a.m. Thursday, June 15, 2023, at the Mowery Funeral Service Chapel in Owasso with Joe Gibson officiating. Committal service and interment will follow at Oakhill Cemetery in Oologah, Oklahoma. Arrangements and services were entrusted to Mowery Funeral Service of Owasso.
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