Obituary for Don Ellen Brinkman
Don Ellen (Donnie) Fowler Johnson Brinkman was born to J.C. and Katherine Fowler of Altus, Oklahoma, on August 14, 1943. Donnie was born the middle of two other sisters who were ready-made farm hands. These three sisters dreamed and schemed together and met and fell in love with three close friends. Later came another sister and finally a brother to share in the wealth of farm chores. The large family and close friendships of these sisters made family gatherings a frequent and joyous event. An overabundance of food was always present at these gatherings.
Donnie married her high school sweetheart, Lynn Johnson, as soon as he graduated high school in 1960. The young couple immediately moved to Stillwater, Oklahoma, where she finished high school. Three children were born to the couple. The couple were divorced after 15 years of marriage. Donnie later married another high school beau, Johnny Brinkman. Johnny's employment as an oil field salesman afforded them many opportunities to attend private Oak Ridge Boys concerts. Donnie became an avid Oak Ridge Boys fan. In 1989, Lynn and Donnie were reunited. Lynn preceded her in death in January 2000.
After a couple of years in Stillwater, Oklahoma the couple moved to Oklahoma City, where they both worked at Western Electric and made a lifelong friendship with Don and Wanda McCutchen. This union grew into a posy of lifelong friendships with Kenny and Sherry Butler, and Duaine and Bernice Moates. This posy of friends became avid lake goers. Pitching tents in the early years on the beaches of Lake Texoma, and later becoming neighboring cabin owners. These families spent a lot of time together, including several snow skiing trips. Other friendships were born of the posy with Wanda and Paul Hinkle, Linda Fabian, Shirley Ridley, Joni Stockstill, Dot Zinn Richardson, and many others throughout the years. The women of the friend posy were involved in many shenanigans over a lifetime of travels and lake outings. Some involving smuggling a drunk parrot through customs in a purse on a trip to Mexico and creating their own parking space on a sidewalk one night out on the town. They also were known to spend time at Donnie's cabin, sharing box wine and solving the world's problems. These ladies later moved their interest in solving the world's problems to their church activities. Family and friend time was important to Donnie; she spent weeks preparing the cabin and additional temporary quarters for large family reunions each year.
Being raised on a farm, Donnie became an entrepreneur at heart. Farm life taught Donnie to be independent, prideful, strong-willed, and instilled in her an exceptional work ethic. Donnie was very artistic. She owned multiple gift shops and held art classes out of her shops on the campuses of SWOSU and OU. After closing down her gift shops, Donnie became a Real Estate agent and later a Broker. She sold water paintings in art shows across the state, flipped houses, and became a Real Estate Broker. She later managed rental properties for multiple investors in Oklahoma City and sold lake properties at Lake Texoma, which kept her on the road between her two homes. She was also sought after for interior design and decorating. For nearly a decade, she was responsible for decorating and staging at least one home each year in Nichols Hills, or OKC for the Christmas parade of homes. Many medical buildings in Oklahoma City today have been designed and decorated by her. Donnie also was artistic in her gardening, talent, and passion that was passed on from her grandmother, Francis (Ma) Carter. She was an amazing cook and loved to make Christmas a magical twinkle light experience, preferably at the cabin.
She was preceded in death by her parents, J.C. and Katherine Fowler; her husband, Lynn Johnson; one grandson, Jesse Farr; and a son-in-law, Troy Farr.
She is survived by her daughter, Cassie Farr; twin sons, Chad Johnson and Britt Johnson and wife, Suzi; Sisters, Darsi Christensen; Denise Ross and husband Johnny; and Teresa Butchee and husband Chuck; Brother, Kenneth Fowler and wife Georgetta. Grandchildren, Seth Farr and fiance Grace Smith; Nathan Helm and wife Brittanie; Austin Johnson; Arron Johnson; Macy Farr and fiance Stetson Myers; Hannah Johnson; and Georgia Johnson. Great Grandchildren, Jace Farr, Blakelee Farr, Paisley Johnson, Charlie Helm, Emma Helm, and Waylon Farr. Many cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends.
The family would like to thank the amazing staff of Magnolia Creek Assisted Living center who kept her safe and stood in for the family during the pandemic months, especially Monica Lynn Christ who's continued videos and pictures and consistent passion to love Donnie like her own made the separation from Donnie bearable. We love you all.
Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, November 18, 2020 at Lowell - Tims Funeral Home Chapel, Altus, Oklahoma. Interment will follow to Blair Cemetery, Blair, Oklahoma.
Funeral services are under the direction of Lowell - Tims Funeral Home, Altus, Oklahoma.
To sign and express condolences for Don Brinkman's guest book please go to www.Lowell-Tims.com
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Donnie married her high school sweetheart, Lynn Johnson, as soon as he graduated high school in 1960. The young couple immediately moved to Stillwater, Oklahoma, where she finished high school. Three children were born to the couple. The couple were divorced after 15 years of marriage. Donnie later married another high school beau, Johnny Brinkman. Johnny's employment as an oil field salesman afforded them many opportunities to attend private Oak Ridge Boys concerts. Donnie became an avid Oak Ridge Boys fan. In 1989, Lynn and Donnie were reunited. Lynn preceded her in death in January 2000.
After a couple of years in Stillwater, Oklahoma the couple moved to Oklahoma City, where they both worked at Western Electric and made a lifelong friendship with Don and Wanda McCutchen. This union grew into a posy of lifelong friendships with Kenny and Sherry Butler, and Duaine and Bernice Moates. This posy of friends became avid lake goers. Pitching tents in the early years on the beaches of Lake Texoma, and later becoming neighboring cabin owners. These families spent a lot of time together, including several snow skiing trips. Other friendships were born of the posy with Wanda and Paul Hinkle, Linda Fabian, Shirley Ridley, Joni Stockstill, Dot Zinn Richardson, and many others throughout the years. The women of the friend posy were involved in many shenanigans over a lifetime of travels and lake outings. Some involving smuggling a drunk parrot through customs in a purse on a trip to Mexico and creating their own parking space on a sidewalk one night out on the town. They also were known to spend time at Donnie's cabin, sharing box wine and solving the world's problems. These ladies later moved their interest in solving the world's problems to their church activities. Family and friend time was important to Donnie; she spent weeks preparing the cabin and additional temporary quarters for large family reunions each year.
Being raised on a farm, Donnie became an entrepreneur at heart. Farm life taught Donnie to be independent, prideful, strong-willed, and instilled in her an exceptional work ethic. Donnie was very artistic. She owned multiple gift shops and held art classes out of her shops on the campuses of SWOSU and OU. After closing down her gift shops, Donnie became a Real Estate agent and later a Broker. She sold water paintings in art shows across the state, flipped houses, and became a Real Estate Broker. She later managed rental properties for multiple investors in Oklahoma City and sold lake properties at Lake Texoma, which kept her on the road between her two homes. She was also sought after for interior design and decorating. For nearly a decade, she was responsible for decorating and staging at least one home each year in Nichols Hills, or OKC for the Christmas parade of homes. Many medical buildings in Oklahoma City today have been designed and decorated by her. Donnie also was artistic in her gardening, talent, and passion that was passed on from her grandmother, Francis (Ma) Carter. She was an amazing cook and loved to make Christmas a magical twinkle light experience, preferably at the cabin.
She was preceded in death by her parents, J.C. and Katherine Fowler; her husband, Lynn Johnson; one grandson, Jesse Farr; and a son-in-law, Troy Farr.
She is survived by her daughter, Cassie Farr; twin sons, Chad Johnson and Britt Johnson and wife, Suzi; Sisters, Darsi Christensen; Denise Ross and husband Johnny; and Teresa Butchee and husband Chuck; Brother, Kenneth Fowler and wife Georgetta. Grandchildren, Seth Farr and fiance Grace Smith; Nathan Helm and wife Brittanie; Austin Johnson; Arron Johnson; Macy Farr and fiance Stetson Myers; Hannah Johnson; and Georgia Johnson. Great Grandchildren, Jace Farr, Blakelee Farr, Paisley Johnson, Charlie Helm, Emma Helm, and Waylon Farr. Many cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends.
The family would like to thank the amazing staff of Magnolia Creek Assisted Living center who kept her safe and stood in for the family during the pandemic months, especially Monica Lynn Christ who's continued videos and pictures and consistent passion to love Donnie like her own made the separation from Donnie bearable. We love you all.
Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, November 18, 2020 at Lowell - Tims Funeral Home Chapel, Altus, Oklahoma. Interment will follow to Blair Cemetery, Blair, Oklahoma.
Funeral services are under the direction of Lowell - Tims Funeral Home, Altus, Oklahoma.
To sign and express condolences for Don Brinkman's guest book please go to www.Lowell-Tims.com
To send flowers in memory of Don Ellen Brinkman, visit the Tribute Store.
Previous Events
Funeral
Wednesday
18
Nov
10:00 AM
Lowell Tims Funeral Home & Crematory
1100 E Tamarack Rd
Altus, OK 73521
Cemetery Details
Location
Blair Cemetery
Blair, Oklahoma
Blair, OK 73526
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