Kevin Donelson, 58, was born Nov. 15, 1961, in Dumas, Texas, to Raymond and Jean (Kluver) Donelson. He passed away on Friday, April 3, 2020, in Oklahoma City.

Kevin graduated from Arapaho (OK) High School in 1980 and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Southwestern Oklahoma State University in 1984. He then attended the University of Oklahoma College of Law, graduating in 1988 with highest honors, and was named to the Order of the Coif and Phi Delta Phi.

After graduating, he joined Fellers, Snider, Blankenship, Bailey, and Tippens, and quickly established himself as an outstanding trial lawyer. He was named partner at Fellers Snider and was elected by his colleagues to serve as President for nine years, one of the longest-serving leaders in the firm’s history.

Kevin was deeply committed to the firm and served his clients with zeal and loyalty. His trial accomplishments are many, and his work demonstrated brilliance in strategy and in hard work. Kevin also served as an Administrative Law Judge for the Oklahoma Department of Labor, and on the Oklahoma Bar Foundation Executive Committee as Secretary/ Treasurer, Vice President, and President. He co-chaired the Oklahoma Fellows of the American Bar Foundation, served on the Board of Directors for the Oklahoma County Bar Association, and served on the Oklahoma City Board of Adjustment. He was named a member of the Fellows of the American Bar Foundation and achieved numerous accolades during his career, such as inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America, Oklahoma Super Lawyers Top 50 List, named a Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent Lawyer, and received the Leadership in Law Award in 2009. He received the 2020 “Lawyer of the Year” Award for employment law, an award for which he was justifiably proud.

Kevin was full of life, laughter, and love. He was intensely present with his storytelling, bright intellect, and dry wit. He cherished his Western Oklahoma roots, and maintained his friendships and ties to the region for the rest of his life. His deepest love was for his daughter Katie, whom he cherished deeply. He never failed to share her achievements with all who were close to him, and he took his greatest joy in seeing her grow into adulthood. Kevin was preceded in death by his father Raymond.

Left to cherish his memory are his mother, Jean Donelson of Arapaho, his daughter Katie Donelson of Oklahoma City, his brother Lance Donelson of Clinton and his children Logan, Lexi, and Landon, longtime friend Cathy Roesel, as well as numerous extended family members.

Due to the COVID 19 virus, a public celebration of Kevin’s life is not currently possible. However, there will be a public memorial for Kevin later in the year. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Kevin Donelson Memorial Fund, c/o SWOSU Foundation, Inc., 100 Campus Drive, Weatherford, OK 73096.

Checks should be made payable to “SWOSU FOUNDATION” with “Kevin Donelson Memorial” notes in the memorandum line.

Gifts may be made online at GiveToSWOSU.com.