A Celebration of Life – Donna Munnerlyn Fowler – January 17, 1956 to December 5, 2024
Donna M. Fowler, 68, passed away on December 5, 2024, at her home in Hutto, Texas, after a courageous battle with cancer. Though cancer may have marked her final years, it certainly did not define Donna. She was a fighter, a planner, a generous contributor, and a go-getter who dedicated her life to making the world a better place for those around her.
Born Donna Kay Munnerlyn on January 17, 1956, in Abilene, Texas, she was the first of three children to Keith and Joan Munnerlyn. Donna’s early years were spent in Stamford, Texas, until her family moved to Hereford in 1968 when her father took a new football coaching job. It was in Hereford that Donna and her family built lasting memories as well as at their family cabin that was hand-built by the Munnerlyn’s right outside of Taos, New Mexico. Many cherished summers and winters were spent as a young family at this magical cabin in the mountains and later it would be enjoyed by children and grandchildren of the Munnerlyn Family. Donna graduated with honors from Hereford High School in 1974, where she was Vice President of her class, Vice President of the National Honor Society, Captain of the Hereford Bulldogs Drill Team, Homecoming Queen, a Miss Hereford Pageant finalist, an actor and dancer in many high school productions and a certified lifeguard.
Donna continued her education at the University of Texas at Austin, earning a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy in 1980. While in college, she worked part-time at the Texas State Capitol, where she met her future husband, Mike Fowler, in 1975. They married on August 25, 1978, in an outdoor ceremony overlooking Austin on what is now Lady Bird Lake. After their honeymoon in Hawaii, the couple settled in Hutto, Texas, where they began restoring an 1876 Victorian house that had been in Mike’s family since 1915. Their love for this home, a lifetime project and passion, is filled with so many wonderful memories of time spent with family and friends.
A proud Texas Longhorn, Donna was a life member of the Texas Exes, one of the largest alumni associations in the world. Watching a Longhorn football game with Donna and Mike was always an exhilarating experience. She and Mike were also deeply involved in their community. Donna was indeed one of the “first ladies of Hutto” and played an instrumental role in Hutto’s development, including putting on benefit plays through various theatre groups in the area, helping start and serving as its first chair of “Keep Hutto Beautiful,” advocating for the adoption of the Orange Crush Day Lily as the city’s official flower, and participating in many community projects. Donna embraced the importance of continual improvement of self, of property, of community, of life. Morning yoga became part of her routine, helping greet each day with mindfulness and intention. More recently, she learned to play the ukulele and joined a band with fellow uke enthusiasts. She started writing more, crafting more and had no problem filling her retirement days with activity. Donna cherished her relationships with the family’s beloved dogs, including Toto, Rugby, Bandi, Austin, Rufus, and Seamus. The arrival of her grandson, Finn Green Fowler, on August 12, 2024, brought immense joy and love into her life. Just knowing that her grandson, Finn, was a part of her precious family meant the world to her. ‘Huckleberry’ was her chosen grandma name.
An amazing evangelist, Donna was a passionate and devoted member of Hutto Lutheran Church since 1978 and over the years, contributed to the church in countless ways. She served on the Church Council, Property Committee, Cemetery Committee – earning the affectionate nickname “the cemetery lady”, Outreach Committee, and Transitional Ministry. Additionally, she took part in directing and acting in numerous church plays. Donna was a member of the local board of directors for Thrivent, where she enthusiastically leveraged their “live generously” benefits by sponsoring Thrivent Action Team projects. She also founded the Swedish Santa Lucia Celebration, inspired by the teachings and traditions of her Swedish heritage mother-in-law, Vee Fowler and Mike’s cousin, Per Lidell from Örebro, Sweden. Donna was also an active participant in the church’s quilting group, “Knot Perfect Quilters” who work closely alongside Lutheran World Relief. She was always excited and eager to volunteer for community outreach programs, demonstrating her unwavering commitment to serving others.
Professionally, Donna had a distinguished career as a hospital pharmacist. Before the ink was dry on her diploma, she began her career at Johns Community Hospital in Taylor, soon becoming Director of Pharmacy. She served as President of the Austin Area Society of Health-Systems Pharmacists (AASHP) and spent forty-one years working as a hospital pharmacist in Taylor, Round Rock and Cedar Park, retiring in early 2022. Her work saved lives and helped countless individuals, especially through her efforts in diabetic and chemotherapy education. After September 11, 2001, Donna’s commitment to public service extended beyond her local community, as she joined the Disaster Medical Assistance Team (DMAT), serving as a field pharmacist for 20 years. She provided critical medical assistance after hurricanes Katrina, Rita, Ike, Irene, Harvey, Irma and Maria as well as pandemic assistance in Texas and Colorado. She absolutely loved being part of these relief efforts and met some great friends along the way.
Donna and Mike have two children together, Emily Lucia (Fowler) Gartner and Luke Lidell Fowler. The then fearsome foursome had some extraordinary adventures through the years. Pharmacy was a job, but Donna’s passions were her family, acting, gardening, and traveling. She was the constant gardener and a proud member of the Austin Herb Society, finding immense joy in spending time outdoors surrounded by nature. Her gardens were showcased multiple times on Central Texas Gardener and she welcomed visitors from around the world, offering tours to share her passion and expertise. Donna loved acting in plays and films, and later was more known for her directing. She loved the Academy Awards and many parties were held along with this annual event. The Fowlers went on some unforgettable trips together visiting Sweden, England, Scotland, Ireland, Italy, France, Mexico, Belize and Peru as well as their many additional travels throughout the states. She and Mike loved dreaming and planning for the next trip, big or small. She loved Texas and some of her greatest adventures were trips taken within her own home state. Due to her love of scrapbooking, these family memories are all beautifully documented with her special artistic touch.
Donna is survived by her loving husband, Robert Michael Fowler; their children, Emily Lucia Gartner and her husband Billy of Hutto, and Luke Lidell Fowler, his wife Taylor, and their son Finn of Austin; step-daughter Aine Slabaugh and her husband Tony of Burnsville, West Virginia; her father Keith Munnerlyn of Breckenridge, Texas; her brother Mike Munnerlyn and his wife Kayoko of Pahala, Hawaii; her sister Vickie Ramsey of Leonard, Texas; as well as many nieces, nephews, and close friends.
A community celebration of Donna’s life will be held on Friday, January 17, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at Hutto Lutheran Church, 402 Church Street, Hutto, Texas, on what would have been her 69th birthday. Donna was a force of nature, a truly phenomenal woman, beautiful – inside and out, and her brilliant spirit lives on in the hearts of all who knew her. She was known for her intelligence, grace, kindness, and unwavering love. Her radiant smile and deep blue eyes would light up any room and will be forever remembered.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be directed to the Hutto Lutheran Cemetery Endowment Fund, 404 Church Street, Hutto, Texas 78634. A family internment of Donna’s ashes will take place at Hutto Lutheran Cemetery, 550 CR 135, Hutto, Texas.