Donna Kay Rollins' Obituary
Kay (Donna Kay Briggs) Rollins, age 91, passed away at John Knox Village Nursing Care Facility in Weslaco, Texas on Thursday, May 14, 2026.
Kay was born to George and Alice (Trestain) Briggs of Detroit, Michigan on July 25, 1934. She was a graduate of Defiance Ohio High School, obtained a bachelor’s degree from Defiance College, and a master’s degree from Sienna Heights College. Kay married Ron Rollins in 1957. After a 30-year career in education and raising a family, she retired from Pike-Delta-York school district. Kay moved with her husband to South Padre Island, TX, eventually settling at John Knox Village, Weslaco, TX in 2018.
Kay enjoyed great literature and theater. She directed many plays as a high school English teacher at Pike-Delta-York High School, writing many of them with her students. On Fridays at John Knox Village, Kay would be found watching old movies with friends. Although she liked to keep busy, walking, swimming and cooking, Kay’s favorite activity was reading. She and Ron shared a love of reading, and Kay passed this love of reading down to her students, children and grandchildren, by reading to them in person and on the phone. She was always thankful for the full life she continued to live, and she felt a debt to the amazing staff at John Knox Village, such as Cecilia Lopez, Cristian Martinez, and Sal Balli. Kay and Ron were also cared for very tenderly by the compassionate professionals at Amedysis, particularly Iselle Brown, Petra Chapa, Art Contreras, and Chaplain Josie Sinyard. And Kay often stated she could not have kept up her activities, health, and the life she wanted to live without her helper and dear friend, Nelda Cardoza.
Kay is survived by her siblings, George (Donna) Briggs, Sharon Elliot, John (Linda) Briggs, and Elizabeth (Joe) Wackerly; children, Holly (Mike) Hershberger, Christopher (Caroline) Rollins, and Heidi (Jim) Croy; grandchildren, Christine Hershberger, Amanda (Drew) Warner, Faith (Zachariah) Houck, Taylor Rollins, Caris Croy, Julia (Sam) Rychener, and Mitchell Croy; great grandchildren, Lynesa Shock, Tristan St. John, Zoe Shock, Travyn St. John, Ethan Warner, Livia Warner, James Houck, and Dylan Houck; 10 nieces and nephews; numerous great nieces and nephews; and many, many, friends and caregivers of John Knox Village, who will all miss her very much. She was preceded in death by her parents, mother Alice Briggs, step-mother Norma (Burke) Briggs, and father George Briggs; sister, Alice (Karl) Bunge; sons-in-law Michael (Holly) Hershberger and James (Heidi) Croy; and her loving husband, Ron Rollins, who preceded her in death by 8 days.
Kay's wish was to be cremated. There will be a short memorial service on Saturday, May 30, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. at the Friendship Hall, John Knox Village, 1300 S. Border Ave., Weslaco TX 78596.
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