Donna was born April 7, 1943 in Lawton, Oklahoma to Lewis Phillip and Maurine Cook Hartman. She grew up in Duncan, OK the eldest of 8 siblings and was a 1961 graduate of Duncan High School. Upon graduation she attended Oklahoma School of Banking, Oklahoma City, OK before moving to West Palm Beach, FL where she worked as a graphic illustrator for Pratt & Whitney Aircraft. This is where she met Joe King and they married on April 17, 1965. They moved to Torrance, CA in 1968 where they both worked for TRW Aerospace and their only child, Amanda Elizabeth was born in 1970. Their time with Pratt & Whitney and TRW was exciting as they worked on several space projects including contributions to the Apollo 11 mission in July 1969. In 1973 they moved to Jacksonville, Florida. Except for three years in Cincinnati, Ohio in the 1980s, Jacksonville was Donna’s home for over 40 years.
Donna’s source of pride and happiness was being a wife, mother, grandmother (Mimi), sister, aunt and friend. Around the country and in Jacksonville she had many cherished long friendships, including her beloved “Ya-Yas.” She was the consummate home maker. She enjoyed keeping a beautiful home and garden which was filled with love and she always imparted lots of helpful advice and tips. Once her daughter became an adult, her love of antiques led to her having an estate sale business for over a decade. In 1997 she began her most cherished role of all, becoming “Mimi.”.
Donna is predeceased by her beloved husband of 41 years, John Joseph King, sister Janice Hartman Thomason, sister Sharon Kay Willett and nephew Larry Vance Willett. She is survived by her daughter, Amanda King Nimnicht, son-in law Billie N. Nimnicht III, grandchildren Adair Elizabeth Humphreys and Billie N. Nimnicht IV, brothers Lonnie L. Hartman (Sharla) of St. Croix, USVI, Rickey W. Hartman (Christa) of Rush Springs, OK, Phil Hartman Jr. of Duncan, OK, Kerry G. Hartman, of Rush Springs, OK, Terri Lynn McGee of Norman, OK (and currently of Jacksonville, FL, as she was Donna’s care giver) and brother and sister-in-law Charles and Roberta Bonham of Clyde, NC as well as many beloved nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held at San Jose Episcopal Church, 7423 San Jose Blvd., Jacksonville, Florida on Saturday September 29, 2018 at 11:00am. Honorary pallbearers will be Lonnie L. Hartman, Rickey W. Hartman, Phil Hartman Jr., Kerry G. Hartman, Clarence M. (Trey) Pippin III, and Phillip F. Souers. Immediately afterwards there will be a reception at Hardage-Giddens Chapel at Oaklawn Cemetery, 4801 San Jose Blvd. Interment will be private at Oaklawn Cemetery and at Piney Grove Cemetery, Swannanoa, North Carolina. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to San Jose Episcopal Church.
Please Sign the guestbook at www.hardagegiddensoaklawnchapel.com
HARDAGE-GIDDENS, THE OAKLAWN CHAPEL, 4801 San Jose Blvd is serving the family
