03/02/2026
"Mothers hold their children's hands for a short while, but their hearts forever.”
Donna Gayle (Duncan) Mayfield just as mothers have done throughout time have held the hands of her children, grandchildren and a true blessing she has held the hands of her great-grandchildren.
Though they may have outgrown her lap, they never outgrew her hands, her heart or her prayers. A mother’s love is forever.
On the evening of February 25, 2026 she would physically hold their hands for the last time this side of Jordan in Prague, Oklahoma.
As the stars twinkled in that night sky Donna would carry that love with her as she left behind a body tired and filled with earthly pain. Holding onto the wings of angels she reached forth a hand to the heavens and stepped into her promised eternity free of pain, sickness and tears.
Donna was born and raised in Prague in a home busting at the seams with the love of her parents Doris (Johnson) and Kenneth Duncan, along with the joy of pestering her brother Keith and the shared laughter of her built in best friends, her sisters Mary and Susie. They had so many great times together making memories! They may have not been rich in all the material things, but they were wealthy beyond belief in family and love.
Growing up on the family dairy Farm she knew all about hard work even if it meant selling bottled milk door-to-door. There is no doubt her sweet smile sold many Duncan Dairy bottles of milk.
While still a student attending school in Prague she worked in the Junior High School office. Her willingness to help others is something that benefitted not just Prague and its students when she was a student herself, but would prove to be something the Prague School System and those students would have in common later in her life with the Paden School System and the students her children attended school with.
Donna would graduate with the Prague Class of 1962 where she was active all four years in F.H.A. , Business Club and the Pep Club.
She would marry Junior Mayfield (Henry Harmon, Jr.) on September 29, 1965 in Prague and they would make their home in Paden. They began building not just a life together but a place they could call home and someday so could their children.
In true tradition first came love, then marriage and before long Donna was pushing a baby carriage with their first bouncing bundle of joy their son David.
Soon all those snips, snails and puppy dog tails were replaced with all the nicer pink things in life with the birth of their own trio of sugar and spice and everything nice, their daughters Diana, Dana and Dolly. Of course, you can figure out who is who, but Donna’s mothers’ intuition was strong so there is no doubt she knew that each of her children had their own quirks and personalities. All of which she adored and made her love them more.
Donna’s love for her children filled not just their country home past the Red Hills and the Mission all the way to Hazel’s Corner and back west a ways, it filled her heart.
Donna’s love for her family was so much that in time it spilled into the lives of children that she loved as her own.
Her nieces and nephews have wonderful memories of time spent with her and listening to her try to keep her siblings their parents in line like the big sister she was or maybe sharing her love of crocheting with them.
Then there are the classmates her children went to school with. Donna was a familiar face at class parties, field trips, fundraisers and just hanging out with the other moms and making plans or waiting for her girls at Ken’s Pizza. The Paden Classes of 1984, 1987, 1989 and 1991 all hold special memories of a woman that meant so very much to not just their classmates, and friends, but to each of them.
There is no doubt there are countless children that walked the halls of Paden Elementary that felt this exact same way.
Mrs. Mayfield didn’t just clean up their messes in the classroom from their sticky lil hands. She also didn’t just sweep up the clods of red dirt that had a tendency to fly off their new light up tennis shoes from Payless Shoes because they were just that fast(if you know, you know).
She was so much more than just the elementary school custodian. She was a friendly face and a friend. She knew their name and would smile at them as they walked down the hallway.
They may have been like a row of ducks, sometimes in a line, but for the most part never completely. Yet, she saw each student for who they were and knew them by name. Something so important to the youngest child and something we never outgrow. To be seen and noticed, it truly always matters and Mrs. Mayfield knew that.
All her years spent at Paden Public Schools whether as a parent or the school custodian was spent loving the children that walked the hallways within its walls, played on the playground and would one day walk across the stage to receive a diploma.
She probably never realized how much she meant to all those children no matter their age. She never knew how much her smile meant to them. She never knew how much her asking how their day was or how their family was. She never knew how much a hug or arm draped across their shoulders meant as she listened. Oh, but those children all grown up sure did.
Without a doubt, it meant everything. I know for a fact for I was one of those students. I was in the hallway with her, at class parties, field trips, school activities, banquets, fashion shows, proms and walked across not one but three stages with her daughter as my dear friend.
Donna was just like a Momma Bird. She would take you under her wing. She didn’t just do that at home or school. She did that everywhere she went. People didn’t forget her. Maybe it was her smile or the twinkle in her eye, but maybe it was just Donna being Donna.
Her coworkers thought the same from the ladies in the lunchroom, the bus drivers along with the teachers and administration as did the many parents of the students throughout the years She was an important part of our school and still talked about to this very day.
Donna may have lived what many thought to be a simple life, but it was something many of us hope to achieve in our lives no matter how short or long they may be.
Donna knew love. She was born into it and carried it into her own home as an adult.
She achieved her greatest wish in life, to be a mother. She was a mother first and foremost, but she was also their friend second. Always there with open arms, a listening ear and a shoulder to cry or lean upon.
The bonus of being her children’s Mama was that she was blessed to be called Grandma by their children and to hold her great-grandchildren upon her lap.
Donna’s life wasn’t what many would see as perfect, but for her it was. Even with her failing health, she took joy and comfort in her greatest treasure by far that of being surrounded by her family.
She had known love in her life. She had been surrounded by it, shared it, given it and most importantly received it from those that meant the world to her.
Isn’t that what life truly is all about, love? Then Donna did truly live a perfect life and we were blessed to be a part of it.
She was in the simplest description a Proverbs 31 woman. She was a rare and precious find. She was a jewel and a gem that graced our lives with a sparkle that will never seem as bright without her here amongst us.
Please keep Donna’s family and friends in your thoughts and prayers in the days to come.
They have lost their “go-to" when life got rough, and their comfort when they needed a safe place to fall. She was always someone the could count on. She loved them as a mother should unconditionally and without judgement. Because of her they knew about love and friendship and the importance of both in their daily lives and most importantly how important it was for their children and now their grandchildren yo know
Donna’s love will stand the test of time. It will be told in stories for years to come and live throughout the future generations proving her life was indeed perfect exactly where it mattered most.
Her children have lost the biggest part of any child’s world no matter their age or how grown up they are, their mother.
It has been said that the bond between a mother and her children is a knot tied by the hands of angels.
Donna now holds their hands once again and not those of her children and grandchildren. She has been reunited with her beloved parents and her husband of 47 years.
Those left to cherish her mrmory include her son, David Mayfield of Paden; daughters and sons in laws, Diana Whitson of Paden, Dana and Mike Sexton of Bristow and Dolly and Gaylen Murphy of Locust Grove; 11 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren, her siblings, nieces, nephews, extended family and a multitude of friends.
Services will be under the direction of Parks Brothers Funeral Home, Okemah, Oklahoma and officiated by her grandson Trent Whitson.
Viewing
Friday, February 27, 2026
12:00PM - 8:00PM
Parks Brothers Funeral Home - Okemah
301 N 3rd Street
Okemah, OK 74859
Celebration of Life Service
Monday, March 2, 2026
2:00PM
Parks Brothers Funeral Home - Okemah
301 N 3rd Street
Okemah, OK 74859
Donna will be laid to rest next to her husband and near her friends and family at Oakdale Cemetery in her hometown of Paden.
Our thoughts and prayers are with David, Diana, Dana, Dolly and their families along with Donna’s brother, sisters, nephews and nieces.
May the memories comfort your heart and help you to smile through the tears as you remember a life well lived and full of love.
"Love as powerful as your mother's for you leaves its own mark. Not a scar, no visible sign... to have been loved so deeply, even though the person who loved us is gone, will give us some protection forever".
~J.K. Rowling
Please leave your remembrances and condolences in the comments.
You may also leave them on the Parks Brothers Funeral Home in Okemah’s website with her official obituary page at https://www.parksbrothersfuneralhome.com/obituaries/Donna-Gayle-Mayfield?obId=47400930
