Donna ‘Doni’ Lynn Brannon Simar
St. Martinville – On Sunday, July 3, 2022, heaven gained the matriarch of our family.
Donna “Doni” Lynn Brannon Simar was born in Westlake, La. on February 7, 1954. She was born to Betty Jean Daigle Caswell and Steadmon Brannon and raised by Shelton Caswell. Doni had two sisters – Denise Broussard (Pat) and Dana, and one brother, Danny. Aunt Doni had many nieces, and nephews.
Donna was married to Troy Simar where they lived in the Village of Parks, La. on their farm with many exotic animals. She had two daughters, Sheri LeJeune Bienvenue (Joey) and Nicole LeJeune Flores (Joe), and one stepson, Troy Simar Jr. (Leah). She had four grandchildren – Tyler (Jesse), McKenzi, Gabriela and Dade, along with two step-grandchildren – Tyler (Megan) and Kathryn. She had two great-grandchildren – Stella and James, along with three-step great-grandchildren – Annalise, Parker and Arkady.
Donna had a beautiful, vibrant and never boring life. She filled spaces with her warmth, smile, generosity, and humor. She could make you smile through tears and laugh through pain. She always believed in others and gave second (and third) chances to those dear to her. She was very quick to forgive and had a heart for the underdog. She enjoyed being with her loved ones, watching true crime TV shows, going to the casino, tending to her plants and always had a new crafting project.
Donna retired from the Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Department after 15 years. “Momma D” was very easy to talk to and never met a stranger. She was known and loved by many at the Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Department and the Lafayette Police Department.
Donna was quick to identify gifts in others and would give you anything and everything to help you pursue that gift. One of Donna’s true gifts was always seeing the good in others and fighting to help them see it, as well. Donna was indeed a fighter and fought five long years against cancer.
When Donna and Troy moved to Parks, she brought her city lifestyle to the farm life with a BANG. She would put warm blankets on the buffalos, hatch chickens from their eggs in the living room, once ran from a chicken in her high heeled rubber boots and even once raised a kangaroo (including wearing ‘T-Fee’ in a pouch). She had a nursing heart and was always the one you went to for help as she had a medicine cabinet stocked for all of your needs.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to either Dreams Come True of Louisiana (visit www.dctofla.com or mail to P.O. Box 1252, Youngsville, LA 70582) or MD Anderson (visit www.mdanderson.org/donors-volunteers/donate)
The family of Donna wishes to extend our sincere thanks to Our Lady of Lourdes (6th floor/Oncology Dept), the staff of MD Anderson, Traditions Health Hospice, and the entire staff of Mills Cashway Pharmacy.
Cypress Funeral Home & Crematory, 206 W. Lafayette St., Maurice, LA 70555, (337-740-3123), is in charge of Cremation arrangements.
(Pd.Adv.)