Obituary
Donna Marie Dawson, 81, passed away on October 8, 2023, of natural causes.
Donna was born on November 25, 1941, to Maynard “Woody” and Marie Frank in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Donna attended Arsenal Technical High School in Indianapolis. She was a devoted wife to Thomas Brown Dawson, her husband of 41 years, and a nurturing mother to her children.
Donna worked hard alongside her husband to help ensure that her family’s needs were met. In her spare time, she enjoyed decorating her house and constantly rearranging furniture. Her hobbies included year-round baking and sharing her recipes, socializing with family and friends, crocheting gifts for loved ones, and making hats for premature babies in the hospital. Another favorite hobby of hers was caring for her beautiful plants, which she often gave away as gifts.
Donna was preceded in death by her husband Thomas Brown Dawson, her infant son David Michael Brown, her granddaughter Gwen Mitchell, her parents Woody Frank and Marie Holt Frank Hisle, her loving step-father Fount Hisle, her stepson Roger Dawson, her stepdaughter Jessie Dawson, and her friend James Rairden.
She is survived by her brother James (Margaret) Frank, her sister Phyllis Hart, and by her children Glenn (Janet) Brown, Deborah (Mark Gilpin) Dawson, Edward (Nancy) Dawson, Tina (Ted) Alexander, and her stepson Guy Dawson. She is also survived by her grandchildren Tomarra (Toby) Carr, Chadwick (Dana) Brown, Sheryll (Eric) Coffey, Michelle (Jason) Mooney, Bill (Heather) Swain, Ian (Caitlin) Cress, Lindsay (Sam) Heigerick, Erica (Peter) Chacon, Tammy Fuller, Kim Alexander, Zachary Alexander, 28 great-grandchildren, and 7 great-great grandchildren.
A sincere thanks to Compass Park in Franklin, Indiana, for the genuine care the staff gave to Donna.
A celebration of Donna’s life will be held Thursday, October 12, 2023 at Forest Lawn Memory Gardens and Funeral Home,
1977 S State Rd 135, Greenwood, IN 46143
Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. with a memorial service at noon. Burial and graveside service will be immediately following.