Donna Mese

Surrounded by love and prayer from her two daughters, Donna Kay Mese went home to Heaven on Jan. 12, 2021, after nearly two months battling COVID-19.

The family is heartbroken by her loss, but feels immense joy that she has been reunited with her beloved husband Jason.

Donna was born to Don and Margaret Robison on Aug. 2, 1959, at the Kingfisher Memorial Hospital.

From birth, she had a built-in best friend thanks to her older sister Pam (Robison) Sampert.

Even from a young age, Donna’s kindness, her strong moral compass and her immense love for animals guided her decisions.

Donna adored her parents and spent all 61 years of her life incredibly proud to be a “Robison girl.”

The family moved to Dallas for four years when the girls were young while Don completed dental school. Then in 1966, they returned to Kingfisher where Donna happily resided nearly all her life.

The Robison family home served as a welcoming, Christian gathering place for decades. Donna greatly enjoyed countless Bible studies, pool parties and other events there first as a child herself, then with her own children and finally with her young grandchildren in recent years.

Throughout school, Donna participated in speech and Junior Miss before her graduation in 1977. After high school, Donna received her undergraduate degree in special education from Southwestern Oklahoma State University.

She enjoyed her time in Weatherford, but always knew she wanted to raise her family in Kingfisher.

In 1983, she married her soulmate, Jason Mese, and together they built their dream home with their own hands just down the road from her wonderful parents.

She and Jason spent most of their 37 years married as devoted members of the Kingfisher First Baptist Church.

In 1987, Jason and Donna joyfully welcomed their oldest daughter, Heather Dawn, into the world. Donna adored being a mother and in 1991 finally provided the baby sister Heather had “picked from a magazine” when Ashton Nichole was born.

Donna obtained her master’s degree in 1995, with a focus on deaf education. All together, she served as a public school special education teacher for more than 30 years first in El Reno, then in Kingfisher for many years.

Donna was a strong advocate for her students and she made a difference in their lives. Her favorite parts of the profession were incorporating animals into the classroom and teaching sign language courses.

Donna volunteered as an American Sign Language translator for community and church events. She had beautiful hands and nearly always had perfectly-painted nails.

She loved bright colors, fun patterns and red velvet cheesecake. Teaching brought Donna many lifelong friends and gave her the ability to turn on her “teacher voice” that would instantly get her kids’ or grandkids’ attention.

Becoming “Grammy” when Heather brought home the family’s first grandchild, Kylar, in 2009 was among the biggest blessings of her life.

The joy kept coming as her other two grandchildren - Kendon, born in 2011, and Kadlee, born in 2013 - added to the fun.

Despite bravely enduring chronic pain for many years, Donna cherished adventures with her grandkids from sleepovers to sports games. Time with those she loved was so special to her - whether thatbe a date night with Jason to a new restaurant in Oklahoma City or hosting the beautiful chaos that comes with family Christmas each year.

Some of Heather’s most special times with her mom included Donna holding her hand during the birth of her babies. Ashton cherishes fun memories with Donna competitively showing miniature horses in matching bedazzled jackets.

Donna was proud of her daughters and her girls remain very proud of their mom. Above all else, Donna loved God and loved her family.

But, there is no doubt her life’s passion was caring for animals. Her local title through the years shifted from “bunny lady” to “miniature horse lady” to “tortoise lady” and finally “monkey lady.”

She and Jason raised countless pets and wild rehabilitation animals including dogs, cats, rabbits, birds, sugar gliders, goats, deer, miniature horses, squirrels, raccoons, tortoises, a bobcat and more.

Donna Mese was the expert you called whenever you had an animal question. She not only knew how to heal the animal in need, but also how to ensure it felt safe.

Animals were therapy to Donna and she shared that comfort with others by taking miniature horses into nursing homes and hospitals when she was able.

For the last four years, Jason and Donna focused much of their energy on their two Capuchin monkeys, ZsaZsa and Gidget.

They even added a “monkey room” onto their house to better accommodate full days enjoying all the excitement the monkeys provided.

Heather and Ashton learned many life lessons helping their mom care for her animals and Donna’s legacy of kindness and care will always endure.

Jason and Donna gave their children the world, but Heather recently pointed out their greatest gift was an absolute assurance they would spend eternity in Heaven. Donna was preceded in death by her mother, Margaret Robison, and her beloved husband, Jason Mese. Donna was not very good with directions, so it makes perfect sense Jason needed to go 45 days earlier to ensure he could help show Donna the way.

Although many more years with Donna would have been preferred, her girls know she was simply not meant to be apart from Jason any longer.

Together is where they were always meant to be. She is survived by her father Dr. Don Robison and wife Sue; her oldest daughter Heather Giddings and three children Kylar, Kendon and Kadlee; her youngest daughter Ashton Mese Johnston and husband Dylan; her sister Pam Sampert; and numerous special family members and friends.

Additionally, she is survived by many happy animals who continue to enjoy a lovely life thanks to Donna’s care.

The family would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank the incredible medical community who cared for Donna both in the Mercy Hospital Kingfisher and the Oklahoma City Mercy Hospital Intensive Care Unit.

It is impossible to relay how valuable their graciousness, professionalism and guidance were to Donna and the girls over the past eight weeks.

Due to the seriousness of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, only a private family burial is being held at this time. At a later date, a joint public celebration honoring both Jason and Donna will be announced.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Donna’s name can be made to the Best Friends Animal Society or other charitable causes working to ensure animals are properly loved around the world.