Donna Rae Cherry Green was born September 12, 1930 at the home of her parents, Ray and Pauline Cherry, in Texarkana, TX and passed February 2, 2026 at home in Texarkana, AR. She is preceded in death by her parents and four sisters: Doris Janice Cherry, Muriel McCaskell, Jeanene McCuller, and Delores Hoseth. She is survived by her husband of 73 years, Ronald Ames Green, by the four children she planned to give birth to before her thirtieth birthday, Kimi Langford, Clark Green, Gary Green, and Ronnie Green; and by many grandchildren and great grandchildren.
The song played at their wedding was “Always “.
The rest of her plan beyond the four children was to pay off the house, not work till the youngest child was in school, and to retire at 62.
She did all that and more and managed to teach us a lot along the way. If you’d listen you’d hear the sounds of unconditional love, encouragement, and frank observations.
Perhaps the best of what she taught us was how to make our exits with dignity.
“How are you today, Nonna?
I’m ok. “
She couldn’t see, or walk, or hold a glass, but she was ok.
She wasn’t afraid.
She had reached the point with Ronald that all they had left was “each other.” She didn’t want to go first, and she enjoyed the fact she was still alive. Sometimes she would reach out to touch Ronald’s hand, “Just to make sure he was still with us”. She was happy to be here despite the cascading hardships; but she had accepted her time had come.
When a loved one passes at 95, you have time to get ready; but you’re never ready.
It’s ok.
She was ready.
But us, remaining on this continuum of life, even though she has shown us the way, maybe not quite so much.