Donna Bethea Hardin

Born in Jacksonville, Florida, on March 20, 1943, Donna was the daughter of Giles and Mildred Bethea and grew up with her siblings, Merrill, Noel, and Sonya. Over the years, she lived in Florida, Texas, Oklahoma, and Arizona. She had a gift for making anywhere feel like home, but her heart always remained in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Donna was married to Raymond Soloman, David Fisher, Lonnie Hardin, and Chris Padberg at different times in her life. She experienced the loss of both Lonnie and Chris, and even through her grief, she remained a positive person who continued to find beauty and joy in the world around her.

Creativity was the language of Donna’s heart. A talented artist, she found joy in many forms of expression, most recently ceramics, colored pencil drawing, and Ikebana flower arranging. She loved antiques and gardening and was a collector of tiny treasures and small curiosities, finding delight in the details others might overlook.

Donna created community wherever she went. She made many friends across the country, and her warmth and creative spirit will be remembered by all who knew and loved her.

Donna is survived by her brother Noel and sister-in-law Velinda; her son Ray and daughter-in-law Melanie; her daughter Karla and son-in-law Frederick; eight grandchildren; and sixteen great-grandchildren.

A memorial gathering will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 15, at the Shemer Art Center in Phoenix, Arizona. A memorial service will also be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, December 12, at Fellowship Lutheran Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma.