Donald Van Stigall

loving family. Don lived an incredibly blessed life with reverent dedication to his Catholic faith

and his family.

Don was born in Bay City, Texas on January 15, 1930. His younger years were spent in Wharton,

Texas where he was involved in Boy Scouts, sports and altar boy service.

Don attended Central Catholic High School in San Antonio, Texas where he excelled in

academics, football, basketball, band and the ROTC. Don and several of his classmates formed

an orchestra that performed at social gatherings on the weekends. His musical instrument of

choice was the trumpet. Don graduated from Central Catholic High School in 1947. From there

he proudly attended Texas A & M University where he continued his admiration and respect for

the military through his dedication to the Corps of Cadets. His exemplary service in the Corps of

Cadets was rewarded upon graduation in 1951, when he was one of two cadets invited to join

the West Point graduating class for a training mission. Don became a member of the 1st

Armored Division and trained with the 82nd Airborne Division in Fort Benning, Georgia. He

continued to proudly serve during the Korean War while stationed at Fort Hood, Texas. Don

made lifelong friendships during his service in the military and often spoke fondly about the

time they shared together.

Upon being Honorably Discharged from the United States Army, Don returned to Wharton,

Texas where he and his father, T Van Stigall owned and operated the Oldsmobile Dealership,

Stigall Motor Company. Don and his parents, extended family and many friends often spent

time at their ranch (Circle S Ranch) in New Braunfels, Texas. Don was an outdoorsman. From

fishing in Galveston, Rockport, Port Isabel, Cancun, and Alaska to hunting in Wyoming, Colorado

and his ranch in Belmont, Texas, Don was a “Man’s Man”.

Although always surrounded by friends, James C. Smith (Jimmy) was his closest friend,

confidant and hunting partner. Jimmy introduced Don to Sherlee Jamail who just happened to

be Jimmy’s wife’s sister. In 1957, Don and Jimmy became brother-in-laws when Don and

Sherlee married at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church in Houston, Texas. Don embraced

Sherlee’s Lebanese heritage and in fact, became the first non-Jamail President of the United

Jamail Club of Houston. He served as President of the Fellowship Club of Houston

numerous times as well as President of Caney Valley Memorial Hospital.

Don and Sherlee’s young married years were spent in Wharton, Texas enjoying parties at the

“bottom”, hunting trips, bowling leagues, playing golf and racing horses at the local brush

tracks. From Wharton they moved to Austin where Don owned and operated Stigall Motors,

received his Texas Real Estate Broker’s License and began his career as a Rancher and Ranch

Developer. He raised cattle and horses, but his favorite pastime was racing horses. His famed

racehorse and multiple stakes winner, Dr. Box, brought great excitement and triumph to the

Stigall Family.

Don loved spending time with his family. Whether it was in Lafayette, Louisiana, Galveston,

Texas or his second home in Canyon Lake, Texas, he always made certain that a good time was

had by all. He was enormously generous and lavished his family with all that life had to offer

but he was most generous with his love, time, attention, and infinite wisdom.

Don and Sherlee were happily married for 63 years and traveled the world playing golf and

making beautiful memories with lots of love and laughter. Don referred to Sherlee as the “Wind

beneath his Wings”.

Don is preceded in death by his father, T Van Stigall and his mother Grace B. Stigall. He is

survived by his wife Sherlee; his son Stephen Stigall and wife Trudy, their sons Stephen,

Christian, James, and Donald; his daughter Suzanne Krejci and husband Darrell, and their son

Nicolas.

In lieu of customary remembrances, contributions in memory of Don V. Stigall may be made to

St. Jude’s Children Research Hospital, Wounded Warriors or BoysTown.