Dana Rae Kinard

Dana Kinard left this earth “for her greatest adventure with Jesus” on January 6, 2026.

Among her welcome party, the loved ones that predeceased her, were parents Frances and E. H. Gilson, sister Frances B. Gilson, and her husband of 46 ½ years, Curt Kinard.

She is survived by (get ready, it’s a long list!) sister Mary Ann Gilson Gardner (Jim); brother Gil Gilson (Kay); children Paul Prince, Jr. (Michele) and Mark Prince (Ellen) Susan Prince, Polly Johnson (David), Kelly Fleming (Shannon), and Kris Prince (Chad); grandchildren Megan Prince, Michael Prince (Kelsie), Paul Prince III, Jimmy Prince, David Johnson, Jr., Daniel Johnson, Drew Herget (Ryan), Will Prince (Eden) and Katy Bludau (Tucker); and beloved nieces, nephew, other family and friends. Her family tree is still growing! There are two great grandchildren, Mackenzie and Ruston, and three more on the way.

Born in Natchitoches, Dana spent much of her youth in Shreveport, where she graduated from Byrd High School and married Paul Prince (not necessarily in that order!) Their family grew quickly and moved from one military base to another, coast to coast. Of those days, Susan recalls the kids at school always asking, “Who is that lady? She’s so pretty!” She was so proud it was her mother. “She looked like Jacqueline Kennedy.” Mark recalls road trips, squeezed into a mustang convertible, everyone singing or Dana reading them Greek mythology. When the Prince family returned to Louisiana, Dana completed her degree in physical education at Tulane University. Later, In Slidell and divorced, she opened Dana Prince Fashions a popular boutique, known for its style shows. She was the first female president of the Slidell Chamber of Commerce.

Enter the handsome Curt Kinard, Fall 1977, a chapter best titled “Yours, Mine and Ours.” The two sparked immediately and were married within months. And so began decades of adventures, including: Two more clothing stores, a showroom in the Dallas Apparel Mart, motorhomes, a condo in Gulf Shores, a timeshare in Angel Fire, a year (more for Dana) in the Garden District, grandkids (she excelled at grandparenthood!), a trip to Brussels (with Mark in the cockpit), London, and Italy (lost luggage, planes, trains and automobiles and they made it!), settling down in Baton Rouge, and tailgating at LSU football games, where Dana finally “saw the light” and forsook her Green Wave sweatshirt for Tiger wear.

Speaking of seeing the light, years ago Dana had a profound spiritual experience and “got on fire with the Lord.” It transformed her life and she, in turn, transformed others. She did years of serious bible study, participated in the Walk to Emmaeus, travelled to Israel with her mother, attended numerous spiritual gatherings and became a prayer warrior for her family, friends and strangers. Her last decade or so was quite challenging, but her faith and her fortitude got her through.

Dana was an artist in every sense of the word: she saw beauty everywhere and created it everywhere: on canvas, in her garden, her kitchen, her decorating, flower arrangements, even her handwriting. She could create landscapes and tablescapes with equal skill. In fact, she was still doing both recently at her assisted living facility, growing a small garden of vegetables and flowers and getting other residents engaged. “Isn’t it Fabulous?,” she asked. Indeed. It – and she – was.

Funeral services will be held on Monday, January 12th, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at the First Baptist Church in Natchitoches, LA. Visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service in the church. Burial will follow at American Cemetery in Natchitoches.

If you attend the funeral and are so inclined, please wear something pink, or Fabulous!