Don Lindsey Sr.

January 10, 1937 - January 25, 2019

Don Lindsey, Sr., beloved husband, father, grandad, great grandfather, mentor and friend, passed into the presence of his Savior on January 25, 2019 surrounded by his family and very large extended family. Don was born January 10, 1937 in Forney Texas to Marshall Lloyd and Ruby B. Townsend. He was welcomed into heaven by his parents, his son, Dwight Lee Lindsey, brother, Marion Richard Lindsey and nephew, Todd Wesley Krodle. Don had a heart to serve others and every day was filled with his love of serving. After graduating from high school, he and the love of his life and his high school sweetheart, Mary Frances Low, married on August 29, 1955. Always heeding the call to help others, Don worked for, and retired from, City of Dallas Fire Department after 30 years. He enlisted and proudly served in the US Army, most notably during the Berlin Crisis, achieving the rank of Command Sergeant Major and then with the Texas National Guard continuing to carry out his duty for his communities including being Past Board of Director and member of the National Guard Association of Texas. Never one to limit his patriotism, Don also was a member of the American Legion William C. Langwith Post 162 serving as 2nd Vice Commander and Finance Officer. Don was a longtime and active member of First Christian Church of Terrell, having served as an Elder, Deacon, Trustee, and board and Property Chairman. He also served as Sunday School Class Teacher, President and Vice President where his love for helping others learn the Word of God influenced so many lives for the Kingdom. Having a leadership mentality, Don also served in many positions with Kaufman County including Kaufman County Fire Marshal where he retired after 14 years as well as having been Past President of the Emergency Management Association of Texas. His uncanny ability to organize and streamline processes and objectives made Don and instant asset to the Red Cross and he was an American Red Cross Kaufman County Volunteer for 22 years where he also served in the role of Disaster Director for 12 years and as the Kaufman County Red Cross Chairman for 8 years. Don also believed in giving back to the community he lived in and loved and He was a co-organizer and past director of the Terrell Church Athletic Association and Past President of the Terrell Kiwanis and Terrell Booster Club. He was a member of the Terrell Christmas parade Committee for 10 years and was instrumental in the popularity of this annual Christmas event with his being the Chairman in 1986-1987 and was elected Mayor of the City of Terrell from 1988-1998. Don and Mary were devoted parents and supporters of the Terrell School System and he was the Terrell Band Parents Business Manager from 1968 to 1979 helping manage and coordinate the fundraising and funds so that students had all they needed for competitions. Seeing all that life had shown him, Don developed a passion for helping boys acquire and build the necessary skill set that would ensure their progression to be Godly and capable young men. Knowing that each life was successfully built on a firm foundation of faith, family and good works, Don found this belief personified in the Boy Scouts of America. As a young man, he started his long time association with Boy Scouts with Troop 391, where he then moved to Troop 390 as their Scoutmaster. Don’s sons and grandsons also continued the tradition when they all joined Troop 390. Don was also a Troop 390 Eagle Scout as well as his three sons and 3 grandsons and he was the Scoutmaster of Troop 390 for 27 years with his leadership influencing generations of Terrell families. Don was awarded several BSA honors including Vigil Member of the Order of the Arrow, 1975 Recipient of the Silver Beaver Award, a prestigious award made for noteworthy service of exceptional character to youth in BSA. He also served as Troop 390 Committee Chairman for 2 years and Charter Representative for 10 years. Don served the BSA faithfully at the troop, group, division and district level with his being appointed and elected in multiple positions: 3 years as Boy Scout of America District Committee Chairman, Advancement Committee Chairman, 2 years as Camping Committee Chairman, 3 years as Awards Committee Chairman, 2 years as Health & Safety Committee Chairman, 5 years Friends of Scouting Committee Chairman, Clements Scout Ranch/Camp Cherokee camp Business Director 2006, Camp Director 2007, 2008, 2009 where Don was directly responsible for $4.4 Million in facility renovations and new additions ensuring the continued legacy of BSA in Circle 10. He also attended the 1981 National Scout Jamboree in Virginia and Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico where his many years of service and leadership enabled him to share ideas and goals with like-minded BSA members that would continue to give the Boy Scout families in Terrell a solid foundation for progress into future generations. In additions to his BSA responsibilities, Don’s commitment to civic and volunteer duties and improvements earned him many other outstanding recognitions including: 1969 national Guard Association of Texas Meritorious Service Award for Outstanding Community Volunteer Work, National Guard Association of Texas Minuteman Award for Service to Scouting, 1970 Terrell Citizen of the Year Award, 1972 Dallas Fire Department Julius Schepps Civic Award for community Service, 1987 Terrell Christmas parade Grand Marshal, 1987 Honorary member of the Terrell Fire Department, 1980 Recipient of the George Meany Award for Outstanding Service to the Youth, 1997 Recipient of the Mikanakawa Lodge 101 Dr. Hugh Brown Award, Recipient of the Whitney Young Award, Recipient of the Quilters Guild of Kaufman County – Quilt of Valor Award. A great man of many interests, skill sets, and knowledge, Don will be forever remembered as a man who made this world a better place with his investments in his family, his church, and his community. To so many, he had different titles which garnered tremendous respect and honor but above all, Don only wished to be a great husband, a loving dad, a treasured granddad, a loyal friend and servant of God. The greatest gift Don gave, besides his unconditional love, was his unyielding faith for it is this faith that assures us that we will all see Don again. Don is lovingly remembered by high school sweetheart and wife of 64 years Mary Frances Low Lindsey; children: Donald Lloyd Lindsey Jr, Mary Katherine Mccoy, David Eugene Lindsey and wife, Lori; daughter-in-law, Wendi Lindsey Brown and husband, Jeremy; Grandchildren: Brandy Lindsey and Jonathan Blanchard, Blair Peden and husband Jason, Lindsey Reeves and husband Jeremie, Joshua Lindsey and wife Jerrica, Jason McCoy and wife Emily, Tyler Lindsey and Cortney Baker; Great grandchildren: Noah Sitzes, Sydnee-Lynn Reeves, Joslynn Lindsey, Mia Peden, Paisleigh Reeves, Joriah Lindsey, Ian Blanchard; Honorary Grandchildren: Logan Smith and wife Hayden, Cameron Smith and his wife Mikayla; Honorary Great Grandchild, Cooper Smith; Sisters: Ruby Anelle (Nell) Krodle and husband Richard, Kathy Adelle (Dell) Duncan and husband Bob; sisters-in-law: Janey Scully, Sue Snyder, Penny Teter and husband Mayilon as well as numerous cousins, nephews, nieces, great-nephews and great nieces. A Celebration of Don's life will be at 2:00pm, Saturday, February 2, 2019 at First Christian Church in Terrell, 405 N. Adelaide, with a reception for friends and family immediately following in the Family Life Center. In lieu of flowers and at the request of Don's family, memorials may be made to one of three charities close to Don’s heart: Boy Scout Troop 390, c/o First Christian Church, 405 N. Adelaide, Terrell, 75160, or to the First Christian Church, 405 N. Adelaide, Terrell, 75160 or Krodle Memorial Foundation, at www.krodlememorialfoundation.org. Each of these organizations embodied Don's love and dedication to others as he helped young men through his leadership in Boy Scouts and serving with his church in any way he could as well as his tremendous respect and honor for his firefighter family. As it was written in Matthew 25:23, "His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant...enter thou into the joy of thy lord."