Aunt Helen, Sharon, Audrey, Curtis and families,
I was saddened to hear of the loss of Uncle Don. Just know that you will see him again! It is very very hard to lose someone you love. The wonderful memories you have will always be with you and he will forever be in your hearts. God bless you all...
Pam, Matt, Steffani, Kessi, and Michael Walsh

I want to share this memory with all. This is about an elk hunting trip with Don and a fellow co worker of Don's. Three great elk hunters years ago went to Questa, NM. Rented three riding horses and a pack horse for three days from a local Questa stable. The stable owner asked if we were experienced riders. "OH YES", said Don. Being experienced riders that we were we couldn't get the horses to to leave the stable. The

I want to share this memory with all. This is about an elk hunting trip with Don and a fellow co worker of Don's. Three great elk hunters years ago went to Questa, NM. Rented three riding horses and a pack horse for three days from a local Questa stable. The stable owner asked if we were experienced riders. "OH YES", said Don. Being experienced riders that we were we couldn't get the horses to to leave the stable. The owner patted horses on the tail end and away we went. With a smile on his face the owner said, see you soon and good luck. Things went well until about half way up the mountain. The packs shifted, nearly lost our food, tent, sleeping bags and the pack horse. We got the horse straightened out and went on our way. Just before dark we had our camp set up, horses fed and etc. Then with the field glasses we saw a herd of elk above the tree line near the top of the mountain. Then the strategy began for the next day. We got up early before day break and began our plan but the elk had gone over the mountain before we could get close enough to shoot. By the time we got back to camp we were tired and hungry. Went to bed early. Some time during the night the wind began to howl and our tents began to blow and shake like they were going to blow away. We didn't get much sleep that night. Early morning we checked on the horses and the old pack horse was missing. The weather began to worsen and we had to pack and leave. Worried about the pack horse and how to explain to owner. When we arrived at the stable the the owner greeted us with a smile and said "the pack horse came home last night. Thought I'd see you soon, any luck?"
This sounds like a disaster of a trip but it was more like a serious comedy trip; we laughed and laughed. We also got to know each other better. Above all we got home safe and so did the pack horse and the elk. We will miss you uncle Don!

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Helping Don get his Tribune downtown paper route ready to deliver by rolling them with thread. Riding with Don in the old black Chevy panel truck that he drove as a deliveryman at 16.
Don and Navy buddies driving his green Mercury nonstop from Florida to Albuquerque and back just to visit for a day or two. No freeways or interstate highways then; just two lane roads.
The very cool ’57 Chevy that Don owned with his new bride,

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Helping Don get his Tribune downtown paper route ready to deliver by rolling them with thread. Riding with Don in the old black Chevy panel truck that he drove as a deliveryman at 16.
Don and Navy buddies driving his green Mercury nonstop from Florida to Albuquerque and back just to visit for a day or two. No freeways or interstate highways then; just two lane roads.
The very cool ’57 Chevy that Don owned with his new bride, Helen. His pride in infant daughter Sharon.
As Best Man at my wedding, making sure that I got to the church on time. Don bringing a can of gas to rescue Betty and me returning from our honeymoon when we ran out of gas late at night in Los Lunas.
Getting tipsy at a VFW party, and Don, Helen, Betty and I bringing another couple home – whom we had never seen before (or since) – for a midnight swim in ice cold water. Sobering experience!
Don’s visits to our home on business trips to California in the ‘70’s.
Attending Don and Helen’s 50th wedding anniversary celebration. I especially remember Don’s deep concern for and great pride in his children and grandchildren.
I’ll see you again, Bro’, in the Land of Life. Jim

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Don was my uncle, but growing up I saw him as my big brother: a hero to be looked up to and a role model to be emulated. So many memories. So many years ago.
Trying to milk a goat with a pickle jar for a bucket. As senior partner at 5 years old, Don was to do the milking. I, as junior partner (3), was to hold her by sitting on her back. Faulty plan!
Being frightened by

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Don was my uncle, but growing up I saw him as my big brother: a hero to be looked up to and a role model to be emulated. So many memories. So many years ago.
Trying to milk a goat with a pickle jar for a bucket. As senior partner at 5 years old, Don was to do the milking. I, as junior partner (3), was to hold her by sitting on her back. Faulty plan!
Being frightened by wild pigs in a field while trying to get a better look at a huge steam engine pulling a train. Don outran me back to the car. Fetching water from a stream in a canvas bag for an overheated radiator. We were all moving from somewhere to somewhere else in Granddad’s big Packard touring car.
Helping Don turn on the neon lights at dusk at the motel on West Central that Don’s second step-mother, Grace Matson, owned. Playing in the sand dunes west of the river.
Visiting great grandfather Deatherage’s homestead NE of Des Moines with Don and Donna Lee Matson, his step-sister, and eating ripe prickly pear fruits (we peeled them first!).
Don, an accomplished truck driver at 11, teaching me to steer the old Dodge coal hauler. I could not reach the pedals as I had to stand up to see over the steering wheel. Almost went into a ditch.
Riding Cap, the big, bay Gelding at Granddad’s dairy farm in the south valley. Watching Daisy, the dapple gray mare, pull the old truck out of the mud. Polling down the main irrigation canal in Don’s mortar-box boat. Hearing meadow larks and red winged black birds sing all day. Elmer the burro lived in the west pasture. Had to ride him backward so that we could twist his tail to make him go. Bad idea at times! Getting thrown completely over a corral fence by a coal-mine mule because I ignored Don’s warning to not try to ride it, especially not backward.

We are both so sorry for your loss. All of you are in our thoughts and prayers.

Amy, Curtis, Helen and Kids,

We are thinking of you all at this difficult times.

Love, Tina and Paul

I remember Poppy taking me and Jackson on bike rides to see the Prairie Dogs. Those are some of my favorite times in Albuquerque. Poppy used to take us to the park not too far from their house and let us play and swing. That same park is also where he taught me to ride a bike. I remember going down this tiny grass hill so fast I thought I was a master already.

Recently I am glad that Poppy got

I remember Poppy taking me and Jackson on bike rides to see the Prairie Dogs. Those are some of my favorite times in Albuquerque. Poppy used to take us to the park not too far from their house and let us play and swing. That same park is also where he taught me to ride a bike. I remember going down this tiny grass hill so fast I thought I was a master already.

Recently I am glad that Poppy got to see me play soccer a few times. I know he was super proud of me. I wouldn't be where I am today without him. He will be missed dearly and I wish I could have spent more time with him when I was older.

Death ends lives, not relationships. He will always be with us. I love you Poppy.

To Helen Sharon Audrey and Curtis

I am truly sorry to hear Don has passed away. I know however, he is in a better place. A place where he will be at piece, a place where he doesn't have to suffer anymore.
As I begin this letter I do not remember any disagreement I might have had. I only remember the good experiences.
What I remember about Don is how he included everyone to participate and how he was generous with his time.

To Helen Sharon Audrey and Curtis

I am truly sorry to hear Don has passed away. I know however, he is in a better place. A place where he will be at piece, a place where he doesn't have to suffer anymore.
As I begin this letter I do not remember any disagreement I might have had. I only remember the good experiences.
What I remember about Don is how he included everyone to participate and how he was generous with his time. How Don saved mylife in 1960 at Kinsley Lake and for that I am very grateful and thankful I knew him.
I remember how he loved to debate about religious topics and especially political issues and how he usually won the debates.
I also saw Don as being brave and a kind and caring man.
I am glad to have known him and we will both miss him.
Love Wes & Barbara Barbour

On behalf of the French Family of Companies we express our deepest condolences.