In 1952 the world was blessed when Donna was born in Ft Worth, Texas! She and her two sisters come from three generations of proud Texans! Her mother never drove a car or held a job outside the home. She saw her Daddy kiss her Mother twice each day. "Before work and before bed I witnessed the love in their kissing. Nothing much changed at home. Daddy got off work at 4:00 pm and mother had supper on the table by 4:45 pm. Dishes were being done by 5:00 pm." Daddy loved being a Texan and an Army Veteran. "I was Daddy's girl and he taught me what tool to hand him when he had his head underneath the hood of our pink and grey Chevrolet. I always loved listening to daddy tell his war stories." Donna graduated from Paschal High School in Ft Worth and admits "School was difficult for me!" In 1972 Donna married her first boyfriend right out of high school. They had both been raised in church with Godly parents on both sides. Donna's mother was the church Treasurer, she attended bible studies and baked cakes for all events. This young couple decided they already had enough church. They agreed to take part in 1970's and they sampled all the world had to offer. Eventually her husband announced he wanted an open marriage. Donna could not agree to that so she chose divorce. Within a few months she got married to husband #2. In 1978 John Dear and
Donna produced their first child and named him Scott Dear. When Scott was 2.5 years old, Donna decided that life is too short to live in misery. "I hated to give up my sweet name Donna Dear, but John proved himself not to be the one for me." Donna winced silly me "I never skipped a Christmas between marriages!" A few months later Mac became husband #3. After four years of marriage...in 1985 Malcolm Raymond was born. We nicknamed him "Mal" and when he was 2 years old, Donna then met her current husband. "Ray Marr and I met when we worked across the street from one another. I always wore jeans and boots to work and Ray worked part-time for a country western singer. Ray and his wife invited Mac and Donna to a country concert one night. Soon after that Donna and Ray talked about how unsatisfied they were in their marriages, and one thing led to another. In 1988 they both filed for divorce and flew to Las Vegas and got married. Donna and Ray moved to Cleburne, Texas to begin a new life. After a year or so of marriage, Ray walked into Donna's office and announced "I'm going to turn myself in!" Donna was shocked "For what?". Ray confessed "I've been caught stealing money at work. We have two choices. 1) Pack and run 2) Stay and go to jail." Donna was adamant "I've got two kids and I will not run!" Ray turned himself in to the local Sheriff and Donna bailed him out. In the meantime, an old drug running buddy of her husband arrived at their door. Ray Hampton stood in their living room and announced "People often say 'looks like you found Jesus, but I tell you the truth, Jesus found me!" Their friend invited Donna and her husband to church on an Easter Sunday. Both Ray and Donna felt at home among at this Baptist church. Within three weeks they joined and Donna got baptized. With tears flowing Donna recalls
"When I came up out of that water, I looked down into that freezing cold Baptismal and it was filthy dirty with all my sins!" A few months later, as Ray's trial approached, he gave his full testimony and once again, God revealed His amazing grace. Ray says that as he gave his testimony, he could see Donna sinking in her seat. Donna squirmed in fear that this body of believers would sit in judgement. She was shocked to receive so much love after all them heard Ray's raw confession. "At Ray's trial, 13 people from our church showed up and sat in the back to pray!" God was so merciful to replace Ray's intended known "Hang Judge" with a "Visiting Judge" who reduced the sentence from 15 years in the Huntsville Prison to a probation with a reduced restitution. Their friend Ray Hampton, who invited them to church... is the preacher who married Donna's son Scott in 2017. Darling Donna is a woman who 'loves greatly'. She is a woman one can esteem quickly for the mercy she generously bestows! Jesus asked "Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. ....Therefore, I tell you her many sins have been forgiven - as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves much." While living in Texas, Ray and Donna both worked 12 hours a day. Donna worked for United Health Care in the HR department. Because of the stress, she developed extreme psoriasis. The Dermatologist took a biopsy and warned Donna that she needed to make a change as there was no drug to cure her painful condition. On the way home from the doctor Donna was stuck in traffic for two hours. She called her boss, then her husband to relate the doctor's prognosis. A week or so later Donna's sister Jeanette came for a visit. She had visited Lakeside for four months and came home tanned, thinner and happy. In October 2015 Donna turned in her retirement notice. On January 1, 2016 Ray and Donna moved to Lakeside. We came, we saw, we liked, we stayed and we never looked back! No more meds, stress or psoriasis. "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Pioneer and Perfecter of faith." Hebrews 12. Donna teaches by her example of oozing joy and grace. She threw off everything that hindered her ......and I am inspired to do the same!
