DON ALWYN DEASON

 The following bio was taken from page 173 of the book entitled “Rusk County History” compiled and edited and used with permission of the Rusk County Historical Commission.

Transcribed by Shirley Koym

Submitted by Gloria Briley Mayfield, Rusk County TX Coordinator

 Don and I, Dorothy Warren, have always called Rusk County our home.  Don was born in Henderson on August 11, 1926.  He is the son of Bennie and Daniel Forrest Deason and the grandson of Matilda and Daniel Deason and Nancy and John West.  I was born in Overton November 10, 1932, and my parents are Rosa Mae Lindley and John Warren.  My grandparents were Annie and Hallie Honzell and Mollie and R. C. Warren.

 Important occasions in our lives seem to be accompanied by rain.  It flooded on the night that Don and I had our first date in April of 1958.  Our wedding day was September 20, 1958, and, naturally, it rained.  We could have predicted rain on March 17, 1960, when Donna Ann, our daughter, was born, as well as on October 25, 1968 when Dana, our son, was born.

 Value has always been placed on education in our family.  Don’s education at the University of Texas was interrupted when he joined the Merchant Marines in 1945.  After serving for two and a half years, he returned to college.  Don graduated from Kilgore Junior College in 1949, and he graduated from Baylor University with a B. B. A. degree in 1951.  Don again returned to school when he went to Officers Candidate School in 1951.  He was discharged from the army with a rank of first lieutenant in 1953.  I attended Stephen F. Austin for one year before transferring to Southern Methodist University.  I graduated from S.M.U. in 1954 with a B. A. degree.  I received my Master of Education Degree from Stephen F. Austin in 1975.  Donna is attending the University of Oklahoma, and Dana is attending Henderson Middle School.

 The church has always been an important part of our lives.  We are members of the First United Methodist Church where I have taught Sunday school, served as Youth Coordinator, served as secretary of the Council on Ministries and served as a member of the official board.

 Civic work has also been important to us.  Don served as president of the Henderson Jaycees, vice-president of the Optimist Club, chairman of the Rusk County Heart Association and Chairman of the Board of the East Texas Heart Association.  I served as vice-president of Chamberlain P.T.A.

 Don and I have enjoyed our work.  Don has sold cars for Henderson Motor Company, he has sold insurance for Lincoln Liberty Life, and he has worked for Gibson’s Discount Center.  He is now a sales representative for Lustra Lighting.  I have taught English at Leverett’s Chapel High School and at Henderson Middle School.

 Rusk County will always be a special place to us because this is where our families have lived, this is where we were reared, and this is where our children were born.  It has been an ideal place for us to work, to worship, and to spend our time with our family and friends. 

Submitted by Dorothy Deason