Mildred Ladonna (Donna) Grace Collins-Todd led a remarkable 93-year life that was an exemplar of womanly devotion to God and family. She was a faithful, unconditionally loving and kind woman with a Christ-like servant's heart who radiated God's grace, mercy and forgiveness. Donna was born March 13, 1919 in Ottumwa, Iowa, the first-born and daughter of Joseph Edward and Mary Elizabeth Hazel' (Kitterman) Andrews. She died of natural causes on April 25, 2012 at her home in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. She was preceded in death by her parents Joseph and Hazel, her husband and the father of her children, John, her late husband Forest, her sister Norma Burton, and brother William (Billy) Andrews. She is survived by her younger sisters Irma Padget and Margaret (Peggy) Ross. Over the course of her life Donna became the family matriarch of 9 children, 36 grandchildren and numerous great-children. Upon John's death in 1960, she became a remarkable single-parent who gave her children clear spiritual guidelines and held them accountable for their behavior. Yet in her wisdom she gave them the freedom to figure out how to live their own lives according to God's plan for them. She provided a loving and inviting home for her children and the extended family alike. The grandchildren loved to come and visit Grandma, who would read stories to them and serve cookies and milk. Donna's children include John Collins and wife Virginia, Rochelle Bullard (deceased), Conrad (Doug) Collins and wife Irina, Dan Tullis (deceased), Miriam Guyer and husband Dean, Theresa Beegle and late husband Randall (Randy; deceased), Samuel (Tom) Collins and wife Connie, Paul Collins and wife Patricia (Pat), Timothy (Tim) Collins and wife Margie. Donna is a graduate of Ottumwa High School and a business school as follow-on, where she excelled in English and Business Administration. She was known throughout life for her administrative and writing expertise. She instilled her love of learning in her children and insisted that all attend college, something that she could not afford to do. Her home was full of an assortment of encyclopedias, bibles and spiritual books. This love of learning played an essential role in her children's careers. As a young girl Donna taught herself to play the piano (and to drive a car at age 12). Playing piano and organ became her life-long avocation. The Collins home was full of music, whether it was Donna practicing the piano or when everyone would gather around the piano to sing while she accompanied them. Moreover, music was her personal ministry in the church and to the elderly. For more than 50 years combined, she served as a church organist at Free Methodists churches in Iowa, Kansas and Oklahoma. Until her late eighties she would play the organ at local nursing homes so, as she affectionately said, "Those dear old folks can enjoy the hymns. Honey, you can just see the sparkle in their eyes when they sing." With her husband John's passing, Donna began to work full-time outside the home. Her first job was as typist and secretary at Hartford Insurance in Ottumwa, Iowa. This was followed by secretarial positions at Wessington Springs Academy (South Dakota) and Central Christian High School (Kansas) and a one-year stint working at a doctor's office in Hutchinson, Kansas, where she made the transition to medical administration. Moving to Oklahoma City in 1971, she spent the last 27 years of her work-life in administrative capacities at Deaconess Hospital, Oklahoma City, where shortly before retirement she was awarded membership in the Deaconess Servant Leader Council for " being a perfect example of what a Deaconess employee should be - a Christian, caring person who is highly motivated, organized and efficient and gives everything she has to every job she is given." Donna was active in other ways throughout her life. At Ottumwa High she was on the women's swim team. She also loved to roller-skate. In adulthood, she enthusiastically cooked and baked for family and friends, and of course, caring for so many children kept her very busy. Perhaps influenced by her childhood experiences on the family farm, she was an avid gardener, carefully tending to her vegetables and above all, her beloved roses. On top of this, she taught Sunday School and was involved in various church women's activities. God blessed us through Donna. She is and will forever be missed by family and friends. We will honor her life with scripture, singing, and sharing at a memorial service on Monday, April 30, 2:00 p.m. at Resurrection Free Methodist Church, Warr Acres, with interment in Resurrection Cemetery. Church Service Monday, April 30, 2012 02:00 AM - 03:00 AM Resurrection Free Methodist Church 6000 N. MacArthur Oklahoma City, OK