Donna Kay Curlin

Donna Kay Mathis was born on September 19, 1956 to Charles and Ruth Mathis at Baylor Hospital in Dallas, Texas. Donna was the second and middle child between her sister Charlene and brother Steve. She grew up in Dallas, attending Lake Highlands High School before pursuing a degree at Texas Women’s University.

After graduating from TWU with a B.S. in nursing, she went to work in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Parkland, where she took care of hundreds of newborns. During this time, she went on a blind date with Jay Curlin to a University of Texas/SMU game. They married in 1990.

Jay and Donna moved to Austin, where she began working at St. David’s Medical Center. During her many years here, Donna made a huge impact on babies and their parents, as well as establishing strong, life-long friendships with her fellow nurses. Those friendships lasted and sustained her even after her retirement in 2020. She and her friends made many trips to Fredericksburg to enjoy wine, food, laughter, and camaraderie.

Besides those trips with her friends, Donna enjoyed gardening, as showcased by her beautiful backyard, cooking and trying new food, traveling, and trips to the family lake house in Nocona, TX. Her love of cats was evidenced by the many kitties she adopted and loved through the years. She also loved gathering with the family for holidays, especially Christmas, when she would shower the family with a bounty of homemade candy and baked goods.

Everyone will remember Donna as full of love and smiles and laughter. She will be sorely missed by family and friends alike.

She is survived by her husband Jay Curlin, her sister Charlene Yahn and brother Steve Mathis, her brothers and sisters-in-law Joe A. and Cindy Staley and John and Sheila Curlin, four nieces, three nephews, many great nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents Charles and Ruth Mathis.

A celebration of life for Donna will be held Saturday, July 12, 2025 at 2:00 PM at Weed Corley Fish Funeral Home, 5416 Parkcrest Drive, Austin, Texas.