Donna Smalley Brown was the fourth child born of Donald and Dorothy Smalley in Columbus, Ohio on July 7, 1949. Her father was a riveter for Curtiss-Wright, and her mother was a homemaker. All of her primary and secondary education was completed in the Columbus public schools. She spent time with her two brothers and sister playing in the parks in the neighborhood, and swimming at the neighborhood pool in the summer. In high school, she excelled in music, and played first chair clarinet for the band and orchestra. She was also in the school and all city choirs. She continued her musical interests all of her life, and played a variety of instruments well, including the clarinet, dulcimer, guitar and harmonica.
Donna was the first woman in her family to drive, and eventually bought a motorcycle, which she dearly loved.
After graduating from high school, Donna entered beauty school, and after graduating, received her cosmetology license. She quickly found employment, and worked as a hairdresser for most of her adult life.
Donna was a gypsy, and loved to move to new places, and travel. She moved to Colorado Springs, Colorado, was a hairstylist there, as well as a horseback guide at the Garden of the Gods. She also lived in Akron, Ohio and Little Rock, Arkansas. In Little Rock, she began a long association with Regis Salons.
When she moved to Austin, she continued working at Regis at Barton Creek Square Mall, and began a bodybuilding career, training in the mornings. After several meets, she expanded her interests, and began competing in powerlifting meets as well. She consistently ranked in the top five in the nation, and was a state champion. She trained at the Austin Gym, where she met her husband, also a powerlifter, Patrick Brown.
They quickly fell in love, and married on June 30, 1985. After a European honeymoon, they settled in at a condominium in South Austin that was built by the company Patrick worked for. They moved to a house located in Williamson County, and their first son, Ian was born on April 29, 1990. On March 17, 1993, their second son, Brendon was born. Then, on July 14, 1995, their daughter Katheryn was born. About this time, Donna began working for the styling salon at JCPenney, first at Barton Creek Square Mall, and then later at Lakeline Mall.
Donna became very active with the children, teaching them to swim, and volunteering for duties at their elementary school. The family then moved to Lubbock in May, 2002. Donna became a full time housewife at this time, still involved with volunteering for school, as well as being team mom and coach for their children's soccer teams.
After three years in Lubbock, the family moved to Georgetown in July, 2005, where Donna continued with her support of the children's various school activities in soccer, gymnastics, track, volleyball, tennis, powerlifting and theater. She also loved the outdoors, and planned many camping and skiing vacations for the family. The family took their dog, Bonny, everywhere they went, and traveled to eighteen states on many different adventures.
In 2011, the family moved out to Lake Travis to enjoy the beauty of the lake and the hill country. The family grew as two of her children married, one graduated from college, and her first grandchild was born this year.
Donna loved pets, the outdoors, music of all types, cooking, gardening, decorating her house and taking care of her children.
Donna died peacefully on September 2, 2016, holding her husband's hand. She is survived by her loving husband of thirty one years, Patrick, her son Ian, his wife Patricia and grandson Elijah Brown, son Brendon Brown, daughter Katheryn and her husband Alfredo Godinez, her brother Patrick Smalley, her sister Beverly Sigman, and many nephews, nieces and extended family in Ohio and Wisconsin.
The family would like to thank the extraordinary care, service and love she got from Dr. Carl Frank and Virginia with Austin Gastroenterology and Dr. Anthony Trevino, and Michael at Round Rock Hospital.
Funeral services will be held at Saint Luke's on the Lake on Wednesday, September 7, 2016 at 2:00 p.m.
Donations in lieu of flowers can be made to the Austin Women's Shelter and the Capital Area Food Bank.
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