DONNA JEAN DENNISTON
July 19, 1942 to January 15, 2026
Norman, Oklahoma

Donna's Obituary

In Loving Memory of Donna Jean Denniston

Donna passed away peacefully on January 15, 2026, after a fearless struggle with dementia. Born on July 19, 1942, in Fairview, Oklahoma, to Gene and Hilda Hurst, Donna grew up with her sisters, Dianna Ford and Roberta Cloud.

Early Life, Education and Career

Growing up in Southard, Oklahoma, Donna’s childhood was shaped by her two sisters, a love of reading and education. She graduated from Canton High School in 1960, then attended the University of Oklahoma, graduating in 1964 with a Bachelor of Arts degree, and completing her Master of Library Science degree in 1967. Donna began work as a children’s librarian with the Oklahoma County Libraries, moving on to a Coordinator of Children’s Services for the Pioneer Multi-County Library system. She was promoted to an Associate Materials Coordinator for the Metropolitan Library system and then became an Assistant Librarian for OSU-OKC. After a brief stint as a Liaison to State Agencies with the Oklahoma Department of Libraries, she then became the Circulation Librarian for the Oklahoma City Community College. She also worked for a short period of time for the Law Library in the Oklahoma State Capitol. She then went back to the Oklahoma Department of Libraries and retired from there as the Oklahoma Publications Clearinghouse Librarian. After retiring, she volunteered with the Oklahoma Historical Society, and ended up taking on a part-time job with them.

Extracurricular Activities

Donna was an avid quilter until her late 70’s, and several of her quilts won prizes at the Oklahoma State Fair. As a librarian, she always had a book by her side and did her best to share that love with all those around her. Donna developed an interest in genealogy and mapped her family tree back as far as she could go. She spent much of her retirement doing genealogy research. Donna was also a recovering alcoholic for many decades and remained sober until her passing. She loved birds and butterflies and did what she could to help save the monarchs.

Family

Donna was married to Allen David Denniston until his death in 1993. They had one son, Taylor, and spent many of his early years camping and skiing. Donna was preceded in death by both of her parents, her husband and one grandson. She is survived by her son Taylor (Jennifer), her sisters Dianna Ford and Roberta Cloud (Mike), her stepson David Mullen (Dana) and her grandchildren Joseph Nett, Diana Mullen (Marcus Shelton), and Hunter.

Remembrances

At Donna’s instruction, she was cremated through Demuth Funeral Home in Oklahoma City and no service was held. The family will gather in the summer to spread her ashes alongside her husband’s ashes in their favorite camping site near Chama, NM.



In lieu of flowers, her family requested that memorial tributes be made to: The Oklahoma Genealogical Society or Save Our Monarchs.