Donald Ray Mears

Donald Ray Mears, 84, passed away at his home surrounded by family on 11/19/2018 after a lengthy battle with Alzheimer’s disease.  Born on May 21, 1934, in Kilgore to Roberta and Earl Mears, he and seven brothers and four sisters were raised in Gladewater, Texas. 

Don and Jo Ann McGee Mears were married in 1956 and moved to the Lake o’ the Pines area in 1968.  A self-made man with a big heart, he was always working with his hands, first in the oilfield, as a marina owner/operator, and in the timber industry.  Don loved his family and the lake, and he could build or repair almost anything until the disease robbed the memories of what he could do. Don was an active member and a deacon of Lake o’ the Pines Baptist Church.  

Preceded in death by his son Kerry, grandson Matthew, his parents, brothers Maurice, Paul, and Gerald Mears and sister Julia Dougan, Don is survived by his wife of over sixty years, Jo Ann, daughter Kristi Thomas and son-in-law Jerry Thomas and their extended family of children and grandchildren, daughter-in-law Norma Mears, grandson Christopher Mears,  and Marleigh and Madelyn Mears.  Surviving siblings are brothers Buddy, Johnny, Chuck, and Roger Mears and sisters Sharon Ford, Janice Castleberry, and Mary Mears, as well as many nieces and nephews. 

A memorial celebration of Don’s life will be held Saturday, December 1 at 2:00 p.m. at Lake o’ the Pines Baptist Church,  9046 FM 729, Avinger, officiated by Bro. Shawn Thrapp and Chuck Mears. Donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association National Headquarters, 225 N. Michigan Avenue, Fl 17, Chicago, IL, 60601. 

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Donald Ray Mears, please visit our floral store.