Donna Kaye Gaines, 85, of Springdale passed away on Saturday, August 1, 2026. She was born on August 24, 1940 to Burl and Opal Sisco Cypert in Springdale, Arkansas. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church where she taught VBS and Sunday School. She was a member of United Methodist Women, Zeta Tau Alpha Sorority, and Beta Sigma Phi.
Donna was an early childhood specialist receiving a BSE and master degrees from the University of Arkansas. Her career included teaching in Bartlesville, OK, as director of preschool at The Greenhill School in Dallas, TX, and setting up a federal program in Swifton, AR. She was asked to launch the Head Start program in Springdale where she went door to door to enroll underserved pre-schoolers. She finished her career at Lee Elementary as a kindergarten teacher, her greatest passion. Donna always joked that she “mentally plateaued at age five.”
She met Leon Gaines, who was with the Springdale Schools. They both retired after they were married. During their 27 year marriage, Donna and Leon enjoyed many years of traveling, camping, fishing, visiting old friends and relatives, enjoying the company of their beloved pets, and eating almost daily at the Village Inn.
Donna Kaye loved reading, especially historical novels. She was an avid Razorback fan, loved bird watching, collecting nutcrackers of which she had a large collection. Donna was a firm believer in the United States Constitution and always exercised her right to vote. She was lovingly known for her humor and old stories.
In her later years, she enjoyed the company of her friends and staff at Arkanshire where she lived. Her friends there looked forward to their daily encounters with her over coffee or meals.
Donna loved her family, her church, and many friends. She will be missed by many.
Donna is preceded in death by her husband, Leon Gaines, her brothers, Carl David Cypert and Jimmy Cypert, and her parents, Burl and Opal Cypert.
She is survived by her sister-in-law, Gaye Cypert, her nieces, Julie Cypert and Jamie Cypert Kitzmiller (Michael), great nieces and nephews, Anna George (Carl), James Roblee (Holly), Thomas Roblee (Mackenzie), Claire Zimmerebner (Scott), Emily Kitzmiller, Caroline Kitzmiller, nine great great nieces and nephews, and a large extended family.