Donna Leah Hightower was born July 18, 1950, in Weatherford, Oklahoma, to Howard Edsel and Freda Marie (Hart) Hightower and passed away Tuesday, April 7, 2026, at Mercy Hospital in Oklahoma City at the age of 75.

Donna was raised and attended school in Hydro, Oklahoma. She graduated from Hydro High School in 1968, earning the distinction of Valedictorian of her class. Donna was also very active in school life and was honored as basketball queen. She later earned her Registered Nursing Degree from OSU Technical Institute. In 1976, Donna began working at Weatherford Regional Hospital with the most recent years of her career spent in obstetrics. She was a night shift nurse and had the fortune of working with her sister, Dawn. After 40 years at Weatherford Regional Hospital, Donna retired in 2016.

Donna loved West Highland white terriers and her dogs Fergus, Jake and Isabell were among her favorites. She had many hobbies and interests including Celtic and Classical music, Winnie the Pooh, needle point, cross stitching, reading and going out to eat. She had a very special relationship with her niece, Jennifer and Jennifer's children, Leah and Taylor. Over the years they remember Donna teaching them to drive, taking them to IHOP in the middle of the night, going shopping and watching movies at the theater all weekend long. Donna and the family would get out of one theater and go in the next, she loved all kinds of movies but held a special place for Disney movies. She also loved road trips and never used a GPS. She could get anywhere, and if she couldn't, she wasn't scared of being lost. Donna's family remembers her always being there and always having an answer for everything.

Donna is preceded in death by her parents, Howard and Freda Hightower, maternal grandparents, Louie and Georgia Hart and paternal grandparents, Wilson and Faye Hightower.

Donna is survived by her sister, Dawn Ray of Hydro, Oklahoma; brother, Howard "Butch" Hightower of Grandbury, Texas; niece, Jennifer Rhoads and husband, Glen of Hydro, Oklahoma, nephew, Brady Benton and wife, Amanda, of Elk City, Oklahoma; nephew, Cody Hightower and wife, Whitney of Benbrook, Texas; niece, Cassidy Hightower of Weatherford, Texas; and great-nieces and nephews, Leah Ray, Taylor Ray and his wife, Sarah, Landry Hightower, Lane Hightower, Dylan Hightower and Mason Hightower.

Memorial donations may be made to Hydro First Responders.