Donna Gene Hale was born on January 23, 1947, and passed away peacefully at her home in Bakersfield on February 15, 2026. A longtime Taft resident and a devoted mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, Donna’s greatest joy was her family.
She loved sewing, crocheting, and knitting, creating blankets, dresses, and keepsakes her family will treasure for generations. She valued time spent sharing stories, laughter, and simple moments with those she loved. She loved sharing family history with any relative that had the time to listen. She loved a good book, a cup of decaf coffee, and shopping. Her home was a place of comfort, faith, and warmth.
She was a stay-at-home mother and grandmother most of her life but did work for a period at Coast to Coast in Taft and managed the Buena Vista Mobile Home Park with her husband for several years. She spent some time as a “pink lady” volunteering at Westside District Hospital and loved every minute of that. Donna also worked at Chevron Pipeline as an office assistant after her children were grown.
Donna was preceded in death by her husband, Allan; parents, Gene Walsh and Gerry Long; and son-in-law, David Miller.
She is survived by her children, Lori Miller, Mandi Evans (Jerry), and Rob Hale (Amie); grandchildren Megan Snyder (Brandon), Robert Miller (Meagan), Matthew Evans (Rachel), Robert Hale (Evie), Perri Evans (Christopher Goodman), Elizabeth Smith (Tyler), and Presley Evans; 10 great-grandchildren; her brother and sister-in-law, Jim and Linda Walsh; and many extended family and friends.
Services will be held Friday, February 27, 2026 at 11:30 a.m. at New Life Center NW, 1300 Jewetta Ave., Bakersfield.
The family would like to thank the caring staff at Ivy Park Seven Oaks and Elite non-emergency medical transport for the love and care she received during the last few months of her life.