In the low-lying hills of the Himalaya Mountains of India on April 17, 1933, Donna Lee (Coughran) Forbes was born to missionary parents as they served the Hindu communities in the area. By the time she was two, the family moved back to the states via ship, landing in New York where they boarded a train for the long journey back to Fresno, California. Distraught on the train, to the confusion of her parents, Donna wept unconsolably until a black conductor stopped by their row. She leapt into his arms, buried her tiny face in his shoulder, finally content. Amazed, her parents realized they were the only white faces she knew, and all the other white faces terrified her. She had only known dark-skinned people in her short life. When that kind conductor came by, she finally felt safe. The story goes that he carried her from New York to California.  

 The family settled in Fresno for a while but then moved to Elkhorn to the family ranch. Donna attended Salinas High School. Upon graduation, she moved to Fresno with her Aunt Fredda and became a bookkeeper for Jensen and Pilligard. It was at church that she met the dashing, Jim Forbes. He took her breath away along with all the other young women. Donna was just 18 when she became acquainted with Jim, who was 28! He was a teacher of English and typing at Clovis high school. The attraction was mutual. During a revival meeting, she invited Jim to the alter where he accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior. Soon after, the dating couple became engaged and married on Aug. 10, 1952. They made their first home on the ranch in Elkhorn while Jim taught school in Castroville. The following year, their first child, Karen, arrived and they moved to Salinas. Donna began a highly successful career she could fulfill at home. Wanting to be home for her children, she purchased a correspondence course in reweaving. Of the entire group taking the course, she was the only one to complete it, and she went on to become a full artisan in the field. She founded Donna Forbes Reweaving and quickly became well-known around town for her expertise. Soon, businesses around the Monterey Bay area sought her out to repair retail clothing; local cleaners would call her to repair clothing they were servicing. The wealthy on 17 Mile Drive, Pacific Grove, Carmel would hire her to repair expensive carpeting, drapes, and furniture.  Her skill was so masterful that, even today, some of her work is on display at the Smithsonian institute in Washington D.C.    

Her second, and wild-child, Linda, was born three years following the angelic, Karen. It is supposed had Linda arrived first; Donna may not have been brave enough to have a second! Two girls could have been no more different in temperament but committed to raising Godly children; she reined her in! 

Donna’s life was full, raising two girls, her busy reweaving career, serving her husband, but most importantly, in her church. Donna made a commitment to Jesus very early in life and served Him whole-heartedly all her days. She served her church playing the organ, doing the bookkeeping for the church, leading choirs and services. Her most important role in the church, however, was her prayer ministry. Donna hungered to see all healed from illnesses, diseases or personal issues. For years, she held a prayer service every Monday evening. Hundreds can and will testify to the healing they received because of her obedience to the Lord and her willingness to lay hands on those that needed a touch from the Lord. While she loved her career, her husband with all her heart, and her girls, and her personal ministries, her first love was Jesus. To her last day, she would spend time every day with Jesus; in the Word and singing along with Jimmy Swaggart's worship on tv every night before bed. At the ripe old age of 92 years, 8 months, and 13 days, she gently moved from this life to the next on December 1, 2025. Today, she is walking streets of gold with her Savior, reunited with her beloved husband and family. There is no sadness when Jesus calls the faithful home. Celebrate her life with us as we celebrate her glorious home-going.   

Surviving Donna are her two children, Karen (Terry) Green and their children Shara (Tony) Pena, Jason (Lizzie) Green, Linda (Rick) Hoffman and their children, Richard Hoffman and Maggie (Josh) Sanchez, and her precious great grandchildren, Avan, Braylen, Ahria, Ava, and Maddie.  She is also survived by two of her 4 siblings, Cecil Coughran, and her best friend/sister, Eva (Kevin) Bevill. 

Services for Donna will take place on Friday, January 2nd.  Her viewing will take place at Healey Mortuary from 10am-12pm. Her Funeral Service will be at Celebration Church, 10 Simas St. in Salinas beginning at 2pm.  Her burial will take place on Tuesday, January 6th at 2pm at Garden of Memories Memorial Park, 850 Abbott St. in Salinas.