Don Fenner, 89, passed away on September 13, 2023 in Nocona, TX. He was born on December 23, 1933 in Iowa Park, TX to Jesse Leonard “Jack” Fenner and Louisa Ellen “Louell” Smith Fenner. Don was a 1952 Graduate of Nocona High School where he was Co-Captain and Running Back of the football team, and voted Most Athletic, Class Favorite, and Mr. NHS his Senior Year. Legend has it he climbed up rival Bowie’s Flag pole and took part of their flag after beating them in football his Senior Year. He also played Basketball, Baseball, ran Track, and participated in FFA while in High School. After graduation, Don continued playing sports for many years while participating in the Montague County Men’s Inter-Mural Volleyball League, Bowling leagues, and was even a Golden Gloves boxer in 1961, boxing as a novice in an open match against the eventual state champion in his weight class. His given name was actually Shirley Don Fenner, but you didn’t call him Shirley unless you wanted to experience that left hook of his, or unless you were one of the kids in the family who loved to tease him and be chased by him. 

In 1961, Don married the love of his life, Virginia Mae Rich Fenner in a ceremony at his parent’s home in Nocona. Together they shared a blended family of four children, Farrell Don & LeAnne Fenner and Leslie & Ricky Walker. As a couple, they enjoyed traveling to his oilfield jobsites together, attending their children’s sporting events, playing in inter-mural adult sports leagues, farming, gardening, fishing, and having coffee together in the mornings. The couple met in Chico TX, where Don served as a Volunteer Fireman, a youth league umpire, & coached for the Golden Gloves Boxing organization. After getting married, they first lived in Bridgeport TX, and eventually settled in Nocona TX where they built three homes together over the years, including their current log home where they resided together for more than 20 years. Throughout their marriage, Don enjoyed being spoiled and waited on every day by his wife of 62 years, and in-turn spoiling her with wild plums, blackberries, and spray roses he picked along the sides of the country roads he traveled each day. Their love was faithful and steadfast, and they never left each other’s sight without a kiss goodbye. 

Throughout his life, Don almost never took a day off, much less a week of vacation. Prior to graduating high school, his first job was working in the summers with his brother Lee, climbing poles for an electric company. After graduating high school, he began working seven days a week in the oil business. He first worked on a work-over unit servicing oil wells. Then, he held various jobs for multiple oil companies such as Dowell, Jack Mercer, Boaz, and George Mitchell Oil, was a partner with A & A Engineering for a time, and later ran his own work-over rig, many times working on an oil well for 24 hours or more straight. As the result of an oil field accident early on, he lost part of a finger. That half-finger became the source of his entertainment thereafter by sharing many tall tales of how he lost the finger and by pulling multiple hilarious pranks on his friends and Grandkids throughout the years. Around 1971, Don began pumping at the North Field in Spanish Fort, TX. He pumped for multiple companies & independent well owners including Aries Oil, Davis-Dennis Oil, Donnie Davis Oil, LaMar Oil, Muenster Drilling, Harold Redman, and Rick Lewis until his retirement in 2018 at age 85.  In his spare time, he enjoyed looking after Granddaughter Amber’s cows, completing various woodworking projects, reading & watching westerns, playing his guitar and singing a little, attending some of his Great-Grands sporting events, and of course watching and cheering on his favorite teams, the Texas Rangers and Dallas Cowboys. 

Don took great pride and joy in being called “Grandad” by not only his beloved family, but by many dearly loved friends and their families as well. He was a simple man, dressing in overalls every day, unless it was a special occasion, which called for a collared shirt, slacks, and his favorite Nocona Boots. He was one-of-a-kind from the greatest generation. He never smoked, never drank, and rarely if ever said a curse word. He was a charter member of Jean’s Men’s Bible Class in Nocona, and remained a man of his word his entire life, only needing a handshake to seal a deal. He was loyal to all, fiercely loved and protected his family, and never stopped loving or longing to see those who became distant. His nickname was “Captain Easy” for his easygoing personality exemplified by the fact that he never got a speeding ticket his entire life. He had quite the sweet tooth, with a love for vanilla ice cream and shakes, and enjoyed being treated to a “sweet of the week” by friend Rhonda for several years. He was also known to be a little stubborn, even ornery, and often tried joking his way out of things he didn’t want to do. He hated gravy, pasta, and rice, but loved his morning coffee and reading the newspaper, which his wife, friends, and Grace Care Center staff brought to him daily. His favorite Country artists were Jimmie Rodgers & Hank Williams, and he was a true animal lover, especially fond of his loyal companion, Snoopy. 

Don is survived by his loving wife of 62 years Virginia Fenner, Sister-in-Law Bettie Woolery & husband Ron, Daughter Debra “LeAnne” Owen and husband Lee, Son Farrell Don Fenner and wife Lorie, Grandchildren Christie Walker and husband Robin, Brandie Sparks and husband Cecil, Amber Stilwell, Kandi Walker, Heath Walker, Tommy Walker & Deni Jo, Andre’ Walker, Emily Marr & husband Matt, Jameson Fenner and fiancé Annalisa Moore, Dax Stilwell and wife Brittany, Great-Grandchildren Katelynn Price & Husband Tyler, Ali & RJ Walker, Brittan & Collin Fergason, Brooklee Walker & husband Kolby, Isabela Hernandez, Raenie, Leroy, and Liam Walker, Sabela Stilwell, Scarlett & Reagan Marr, River Fenner, and Great-Great Grandbabies Nolan Price, Micah, Evi, & Amber Walker, and many beloved Nephews, Nieces, and Great and Great-Great Nephews & Nieces. 

Don was preceded in death by his parents Jack and Louell Fenner, his sisters Noma Martin, Bennie Dennis, and Lavene Taylor, his brothers Leonard Doyle (LD) and Walter “Lee” Fenner, sons Leslie Wade (Les) Walker and Ricky Alan (Ric) Walker, Grandson Angel Walker, Great-Grandbabies Caleb & Jacob Sparks, and Nephews, Charles Eddie Rich, Jr. (Little Eddie),  Mike Taylor and Curtis Martin .

Family visitation will be Monday, September 18thfrom 6-7 p.m. at Jerry Woods Funeral Home in Nocona. A Celebration of Don’s Life will be held at Bethel Baptist Church, Nocona, on Tuesday, September 19that 2:00 p.m., officiated by Jonathan Brown. Interment will follow at Nocona Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Robin Walker, Cecil Sparks, David Woolery, Dana Woolery, Ken Koontz, Clint Snow, Jerry Dan Davis, and Donnie Davis. Honorary Pallbearers are Dax Stilwell, Jameson and River Fenner, Tommy Walker, Heath Walker, Kolby Walker, Andre’ Walker, Tyler Price, RJ Walker, Collin Fergason, Liam and Leroy Walker

In lieu of flowers and in honor of Don’s life-long love of dogs and all animals, the family requests memorials be made to Lucky Paws Animal Shelter 653 Airport Rd. Nocona, TX 76255, or to Bethel Baptist Church 310 Seventh St., Nocona, TX 76255, or to a charity of your choice.