Donna Kay Scoggins-Stuber

A Celebration of Her Life Donna Scoggins-Stuber lived a life shaped by intelligence, hard work, strong opinions, deep loyalty, and a genuine enjoyment of the world around her. She believed in doing things well, thinking for herself, honoring tradition, and making the most of each chapter of life - and she did exactly that. Born Donna Kaye Pherigo on December 18, 1943, in Beaumont, Texas, Donna was the daughter of Shannon and Ruth Marie Pherigo. Her father was a United States Marine who died during World War II. After time in Beeville, Texas, her family returned to Okmulgee, Oklahoma, where Donna’s roots were firmly planted. Donna lost her mother while she was in junior high and was raised by her grandparents, known to all as “Momma and Papa Bradley.” From them, and from experience, she learned the importance of family, responsibility, and continuity - values she carried forward and made sure mattered to the people she loved. Donna attended the University of Oklahoma for two years, where she met Lyman Scoggins, who was attending Okmulgee Tech. They married and became parents to two sons, Mark and Jonathan (Jon). Donna took pride in building a home grounded in stability, shared experiences, and traditions that were intentional and lasting. While raising her sons, Donna worked steadily at Zebco, Indoor/Outdoor, and Tulsa Community College (TCC), continuing her work at TCC through her own return to college. In 1988, Donna and Lyman divorced - a turning point that opened a new chapter of her life. After the divorce, Donna returned to the University of Oklahoma, joining classrooms filled with students more than half her age - at the same time both of her sons were attending college themselves. During that time, she also discovered that she enjoyed running, eventually participating in several local races and completing the Tulsa Run seven times - something she took quiet pride in. She graduated from OU Health Sciences in 1992 as an occupational therapist. During this second chapter at OU, Donna met Rick Stuber, who became her best friend and life partner. Their relationship was built on shared values, mutual respect, and genuine enjoyment of one another. Rick was central to Donna’s life, and she was proud of the partnership they built and deeply appreciative of his care and devotion, especially in her later years. Donna went on to build a meaningful career at the George Nigh Rehabilitation Institute in Okmulgee, where she eventually became Department Head and remained until retirement. Her work often took her throughout northeastern Oklahoma providing home health care. She believed people deserved to be treated fairly, listened to, and taken seriously - and she made sure they were. Outside of work, Donna enjoyed life in ways that were unmistakably her own. She loved the outdoors, especially gardening and learning about native plants, and was happiest with her hands in the dirt. She never passed up a good estate sale and collected anything unique, interesting, or useful. Her home reflected curiosity, practicality, and an appreciation for things with a story. There was one book that mattered deeply to Donna: Miss Twiggley’s Tree. She made sure each of her grandchildren received an inscribed copy – a lasting expression of how she understood growth, roots, and family. Donna loved her alma mater, the University of Oklahoma, and took particular pleasure in reminding her largely Oklahoma State–leaning family of that loyalty. Few messages were sent with more consistency than a well-timed “Boomer Sooner.” She also had very clear feelings about the color orange, and they were not favorable. Donna valued friendship, church, summer trips, time near the water, and people who said what they meant. She rarely spoke poorly of others, but she did not lack conviction, and she saw no reason to disguise it. Donna passed away on January 22, 2026, at home, after a long battle with cancer. She met that time with bravery, clarity and gratitude for the life she had lived and the people she loved. She is survived by her husband and best friend, Rick Stuber; her sons Mark Scoggins and Jon Scoggins; daughter-in-law Amy Scoggins; grandchildren Daniel, Jazmin, Barrett, Madison, T.J., Dax, Taiga, and Melisa; great-granddaughters Naya and Mia; brothers and sisters-in-law Alan and Debra Wilke and Steve and Melissa Mitchell, and a host of nieces, nephews, and cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents, her grandparents, her brother Ron Pherigo, and two infant grandsons, Kalyan Scoggins and Shia Scoggins. Donna’s life was well lived - marked by steady effort, deep roots, meaningful work, strong traditions, gardens tended, stories collected, and love that was real and enduring. Her family is proud of her - and always will be. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to University United Methodist Church, the Oklahoma Native Plant Society, or the American Cancer Society. All done… off we go. Arrangements and services were entrusted to Mowery Funeral Service of Owasso. www.moweryfs.com

Donna Kay Scoggins-Stuber

December 18, 1943 - January 22, 2026