Donna Jan Binkley

August 8, 1961 - February 4, 2018

Donna entered into eternal rest on Sunday, February 4, 2018. She had a gentle but adventurous spirit and is now singing with the Angels.

She was often referred to by those who knew her as one of the most kind-hearted people they knew. Donna grew up in Houston, attended Sharpstown HS – graduating Class of 79’, and later furthered her studies at South West Texas State. She spent 27 years in the family business until she retired in late 2010 to pursue other passions. She learned American Sign Language (ASL) as a teenager in church and continued that passion by later going back to school to earn her Associate’s degree and ASL certificate at Houston Community College. Donna continued her career as a translator and enjoyed volunteering her skills anywhere she could. She attended Woodhaven Baptist Deaf Church close to her home where she was able to sign as well attend a weekly church service.

Donna loved music at an early age and could be found playing her guitar and singing on the porch for hours on end. She later joined a band and spent time performing live around the country. One of her favorite artists was Joni Mitchel and she would travel to the annual Joni Fest to see old friends and share in their love of music. Between her passion for music and signing, one of her favorite moments of every year was signing and singing the hymns at Christmas and Easter church services- most notably “Oh Holy Night."

Donna loved animals as a child and never met a stray- especially cats. She once told her mom, “when i grow up, I’m gonna just keep them all.” And this passion for animals and a tender heart carried her throughout her life.

One of Donna’s greatest joys was to spend time with her beloved Joseph and going to the circus with her 3 nieces. As her nieces grew older, summer activities changed, but Donna was always ready to spend as much time with them as she could. Some of her favorite moments with them were spent eating her homemade chicken and dumplings or catching them for lunch dates at Red Lobster to eat cheesy biscuits. Donna loved to cook and could be counted on at any gathering to bring one of her famous deserts, her famous cheese ball, or the dressing at Thanksgiving. She was always part of the party, if not the life of it, taking pictures of everyone else in her favorite party hat and probably hiding an Easter egg or two at her annual Easter egg hunt in her backyard.

Donna loved the outdoors but was especially drawn to the beach. She would take micro-vacations traveling to the Texas-coast beaches and stay in a rented beach house. When she wasn’t digging her toes into the sand, she could often be found at the neighborhood park enjoying the beauty of nature and humming her favorite tunes.

Donna is lovingly remembered by her companion, Joseph. She is also forever remembered by her mother Janice, her brother Brett (Robin), step-sister Jennifer (Phil), step-brother Danny (Leta), and 7 nieces and nephews, Ashton, Kirsten, Jordan, Elizabeth, Tyler, Kelby, and Landon. Donna was predeceased by her father James Binkley. She will also be forever remembered by numerous other friends and extended family.

A celebration of Donna’s life celebration was held at 10:00am on Thursday, February 8, in the chapel of Waltrip Funeral Directors, 1415 Campbell Rd, Houston, TX 77055, 713-465-2525. http://www.dignitymemorial.com/waltrip-funeral-directors/

Memorial donations in memory of Donna were requested to Woodhaven Baptist Deaf Church.