Donna Mae Behl

February 11, 1952 - February 5, 2021

Donna Mae Behl was born February 11, 1952 in Waynesville, Missouri to Donald Cecil and Ruby Mae McDowell. She died February 5, 2021 in Edmond, Oklahoma. She lived the first year of her life with her family in a cleaned-up chicken house near Hawkeye, Missouri where she nearly lost her life with a Croup cough. She grew up surrounded by a loving family, and they would regularly get together to play guitar, banjo, harmonica, and sing country-western and gospel songs. She moved with her parents to Kansas City, KS in 1963 and graduated from Wyandotte High School in 1970. She married Gary Hill and had two sons, Chad Martin Hill and Ryan Michael Hill. Donna and Gary drifted apart and divorced. She later married John A. Behl, Jr. and they had their daughter, Rayna Michelle Behl. Soon after the birth of their daughter, Donna and John bought the land her grandparents owned near Hawkeye, Missouri, and spent nearly 15 years less than a mile from her parents. Following the death of her parents, Donna and John made Edmond, Oklahoma their home up until the time of her passing. Words from her children truly help to capture the essence of Donna: From Chad: Mom was vibrant and supportive. She loved nurturing plants as much as her family. She will be forever in our hearts. From Ryan: She was the best Mom I could have asked and hoped for. Selfless, loving, and firey as a McDowell should be. She always put family, friends, and others above herself even if it was beyond reason. Mom accepted my wife Alyssa as her own and she became the Mom she always needed in her life. I'm so proud and thankful that we could give her time to be a Grandmother as she always asked for a Grandbaby. Spending time with family is what she enjoyed most. The joy it brought her is what I'll always remember her by. I'll miss her every day. From Rayna: Mom was my best friend, my strongest support, and the best mother anyone could ever dream to be blessed with. I miss her dearly, forever wishing to ask her advice on life as she was always a wealth of knowledge and love. From Alyssa: Donna was the mom I always needed. She loved me unconditionally even though I was not her blood. She went out of her way to make me and my sister know that she was there for us anytime we needed her. I could talk to her about anything without a filter. If I told a joke that was a little too mature she would have a quick and funny response. Then she would remind me how much her dad would have loved me. I’m happy I was able to give her a grandbaby. She was so excited and thankful. In return, she gave me a home I could be comfortable with and call my own. Her house always felt nostalgic and safe. The house was always warm and comfortable. I felt like I could just walk into the bedroom and sleep. She would always tell me stories about her parents. She would try to apologize about bringing them up so much, but it helped me get to know them and feel like part of the family. I know how much her family meant to her and even though I miss her and want her back, I’m glad she gets to be with her mom and dad who she missed as much as we will miss her. A service honoring Donna’s life will be at 2:00pm on Thursday, February 11, 2021 at Crawford Funeral Service, Edmond. She will later be laid to rest in the Hawkeye Cemetery next to her parents. In lieu of flowers please consider making a memorial donation to the family of Donna, to honor her final wishes. Donations may be sent via mail or over phone to Crawford Funeral Service (610 NW 178th St. Edmond, OK 73012 (405) 340-2333). Watch her service live at https://www.facebook.com/crawfordfuneral