Donald Lee Thaxton was born in Lone Grove, OK on June 19, 1934. He departed this life June 8, 2011 in Ardmore, OK. He attended Post Oak School, moved to Lamont, CA, came back to Ardmore, and then to the Overbrook area. He graduated from Meadowbrooke High School. Don was baptized in Rock Creek in 1945 and was a member of the Marsden Baptist Church. Don married Bonnie Welch at the First United Methodist Church in Seiling, OK on December 28, 1958. He was an Aviation Electrician in the U.S. Navy and served with Carrier Air Groups aboard the aircraft carriers USS Boxer, USS Oriskany, USS Lexington, USS Roosevelt and the USS John F. Kennedy. He was stationed at US Naval Air Stations San Diego, CA, Miramar, CA, Chula Vista, CA, Kingsville, TX, Jacksonville, FL, Oceana, VA, and Corpus Christi, TX. After 22 years of service he retired, as a Chief Petty Officer, and was subsequently employed by a large equipment rental firm in Corpus Christi, TX for over 22 years. Don was a perpetual member of the Ardmore Masonic Lodge 31, Ardmore 70 Eastern Star, Amaranth Court 34, where he was a Past Royal Patron; a lifetime member of DAV Chapter 30 and VFW Chapter 4574. He also took great pride in his Choctaw heritage. The way he lived set an exemplary example of work ethics, and of quiet, persistent courage and fortitude. He liked to help people and he continues helping as a bone and tissue donor through the Life Share Transplant Donor Services of Oklahoma. He was predeceased by his parents, Sam and Maggie Thaxton, his parents-in-law, Bill and Carrie Welch, sister-in-law, Judy Welch, niece Angela Welch, nephew Larry Don Welch. He is survived by his wife of fifty two years, Bonnie; daughters, Pamela and Charles Crabtree and Valerie Thaxton and Craig Dowdy; grandson Paul and Kelly Berg; great grandsons Elijah and Jacob Berg and Jacobs mother Shealyn; brothers-in-law Bill and Julia Welch and David Welch; nephews D.L. and Maria Welch and William Welch, and nieces Amy Welch and Rhonda and Tim Hintergardt; six grand nieces, and two grand nephews; numerous special cousins and their families; and many treasured friends. Brief services and burial with military honors were held at Ft. Sill National Cemetery June 16, 2011. Brother Claude Williams presided as clergy there and will lead a memorial service at Marsden Baptist Church on Sat., July 9th, 2011 at 3:30 P.M. In Dons memory, donations may be made to the charity of your choice, or Marsden Baptist Church, or Ardmore Rite Care Clinic, 911 W. Broadway, Suite 212, Ardmore, OK 73401, 580-224-9943 a clinic for childrens language disorders.