Donna Schley Koonce

Donna Schley Koonce (née Osborne), beloved mother and wife, passed away on Tuesday, March 30, 2010. She was born on August 10, 1932, in Shreveport Louisiana to Schley and Eva Osborne. Donna is survived by her loving husband of 59 years, Philip “Coach” Koonce; her children, Philip Koonce, III and his wife Gail, Blaine Koonce and his wife Lynn, and Katy Koonce and her wife Paige; her grandchildren, Cody, Bryan, Brent, Haley, Andrea, Jenna, Stephanie, Dylan, and Waylon; her niece, Gayle Fabra; her grandnieces and grandnephews Teri Butler, Lisa Herr, Rick Richardson and Christi Stringer; and seven great-grandchildren.

Donna was raised in Carthage, Texas, and graduated from Carthage High School in 1950. She attended Southern Methodist University before marrying Philip in 1951. They settled in Texas City, where Philip coached football and Donna was active in civic and community life. In 1962 they moved back to Carthage, and in 1969 they moved to Lake Jackson, Texas, where Philip served as defensive coach for the Brazoswood Buccaneers, guiding the team that would win the state championship in 1974.

In Lake Jackson, Donna made close friendships that would last throughout her life. She and Philip became members of a supper club that continues to this day. She was an avid golfer. She loved to dance, and she bequeathed her love of music to all three of her children.

Donna was a talented storyteller and a gifted writer, always ready with a rhyme to suit any occasion or sentiment. Her love of words also fueled her passion for crossword puzzles, which she worked daily.

Donna will be remembered for her style and generosity. She was quick to help a friend in need, and many people remember her fondly as a loving maternal figure.

Donna loved to step into the backyard at night and say her prayers under the moon. When the moon was waxing, she would often call her family and exhort them to “go outside and look at that moon.” She passed early Tuesday morning under a spectacular, golden, full moon.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, April 1, from 5-7pm at Restwood Funeral Home on 1038 West Plantation Drive in Clute, Texas. Funeral services will be held on Friday, April 2, at 11am at the same location.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Brazoswood Retired Teachers Scholarship Fund at Brazoswood High School. Checks can be made payable to BISD with a memo designating them for the Brazoswood Retired Teachers Scholarship Fund in honor of Donna Koonce. They should be addressed to Janet Gipson, 302 West Brazoswood Dr., Clute, Texas, 77531.