Brenda Marie McDonald Hayman

Brenda Marie McDonald Hayman, of Forney, Texas, was called to her eternal home while surrounded by her daughters on November 1, 2023.

Brenda was born on July 1, 1958 in Clarendon, Texas. She was known to joke on family road trips that Clarendon held a parade for her when she passed through town. (This parade consisted of used car lots with fancy balloons and streamers.) Brenda spent her young childhood years in Amarillo before moving to Dallas. She graduated from Spruce High School in 1976, where she met her love, Tim. Brenda and Tim married in Dallas on December 3, 1976. Brenda initially served as a transcriptionist at Baylor Hospital before embracing the role of a devoted stay-at-home mom to her beloved daughters. As the girls grew, she reentered the workforce being employed by Forney ISD, Talty Water Supply, Praxair, Inc., MPCA CPA, where she made many friends who became her extended family.

Brenda had an unparalleled sense of humor and zest for life. She and Tim were hard-working and dedicated their lives to their daughters and granddaughters, so Tim’s final wish for Brenda was a life rich in exploration and adventure with the girls—a wish fulfilled through visits to Disney and other beloved amusement parks, cruises, cross-country road trips, and countless experiences. She often teased her daughters, suggesting her epitaph should read, “She never saw a blue whale, but she did ride Space Mountain.” The girls now hope she has finally glimpsed that elusive blue whale.

She rarely missed any event in the lives of “her girls”—soccer games, band competitions, Friday night lights—embracing it all with a desire to savor every moment. The girls, on their part, are extremely grateful for the fun and loving life Brenda and Tim gave them, along with the timeless wisdom they both left in their legacy: to leave the world better than they found it.

Brenda’s sudden passing has sent shockwaves through the hearts of all who knew her, especially her daughters and granddaughters. While grappling with the profound loss, they find solace in gratitude for the extraordinary life she and Tim provided. The girls express that though their time with Tim and Brenda was brief, they feel incredibly fortunate to have been blessed with them as parents in this life.

Left in Brenda’s wake are daughters Brittney and Courtney Hayman, granddaughters Avery and Evie Hayman of Forney, brother and sister-in-law Wesley and Gail McDonald, sistersin- law Marsha Rogers and Nelda Alston, cherished nieces and their partners— Sarah McDonald and Chelsea Brown, Joanna and Michael Ruesch, Lacey and Erik Montes, Sheri Rogers, Melanie and Donnie Button, Dawn and Tim Bird—nephew J Alston, step-mother-inlaw Barbara Hayman, along with numerous great-nieces, great-nephews, friends, and fur grandbabies.

She is preceded in death by the love of her life and husband of nearly 40 years, Timothy Allen Hayman, who lost his battle to Multiple Myeloma in 2016, her mother Lazetta Ivey McDonald, father Wesley Frank Mc-Donald, mother-in-law Romola Jo Moon, father-in-law Kenneth Lowell Hayman, brother-in-law Jimmy Hayman, brother-in-law Richard Rogers, and nephew Michael McDonald.

In lieu of flowers, as a tribute to Brenda’s compassionate spirit and love for her community, kindly consider contributing to the Forney Food Pantry during this season of giving.