Don Hamilton Still

After a rich and blessed life highlighted by a deep faith, Don Hamilton Still passed away peacefully in his sleep on Saturday, May 14, 2016, at the age of 82. His loving and devoted wife of 42 years, along with children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and countless friends already deeply miss him and his many stories but are comforted to know that he is in a much better place. Don's faith was of the utmost importance to him, and it grew richer and deeper over the years. He was a member of Wimberley United Methodist Church for many years and then watched Cornerstone Church Sunday services on TV when it became too hard to attend in person. One of his biggest hopes was that all those he knew, family and friends alike, would share in his faith.

Don took great joy, comfort, and pride in his family. He is survived by his wife, Nelle Buchanan Still; mother-in-law, Hazel Buchanan Spillman and husband, Andy; sister, Virginia Still Azar and husband, Joe; sister-in-law, Barbara Buchanan Walski and husband, Pete; brother-in-law Bill Buchanan; children, Tere Still Hutto and husband, Wade, Tammy Still Mullican and husband, Bill, Todd Still and wife, Sharon, Rhonda Shacklett Gennarelli and husband, Gary, Lisa Shacklett Head and husband, David, Al Shacklett and wife, Julie; grandchildren, Shannon Still, Josh Still, Heather Lehmberg and husband, Bill, Jessica Mullican, Jennifer Mullican, Julie Mullican, William Mullican IV, Hannah Still and husband, Doug, Savannah Still, Lauren Gennarelli, Olivia Gennarelli, Xander Gennarelli, Zane Gennarelli, Reagan Head, Allison Head, Hannah Bess, Ethan Bess; great grand-children, Elleson Lehmberg, Hutton Lehmberg, and Vivian Still, along with nieces and nephews and countless friends. Don was preceded in death by his parents, Hamilton Still and Lillie Jane Harris Still, his younger brother, David Coleman Still, and Don's first-born son, Michael Timothy Still.

Don, more commonly known as Papa, savored every moment he had with his family. Nothing would please him more than having his loved ones gathered around him, whether it was for the holidays or just because. He always had an open door policy and welcomed anyone who came by. He loved showing off the beautiful ranch in Wimberley where he lived with Nelle, telling a funny story or two, playing dominoes, and having conversations about the important things in life. His kids, grandkids and great grandkids will always remember how much he liked to tease them. He always said he only teased those he loved!

Don was born in Slaton, Texas on July 18, 1933, to Hamilton Still and Lillie Jane Harris. He graduated from Rankin High School in Rankin, Texas, where he was captain of the football team and voted senior favorite, most athletic, and most handsome. He began his working career at the ripe old age of 12 when he worked as a soda jerk at the local pharmacy, a job he held through high school. After graduating from high school, at the age of 17 and with the permission of his parents, Don joined the United States Air Force. He served for 87 days until he was given a medical discharge due to a broken back, a previously undiagnosed high school football injury. He also worked as both a teller and the janitor at the Rankin Bank.

Rare is the person who knows at the beginning of a job what he will do for the entirety of his career. Don was one of those people, and in 1951 he began his job as a typist for Elliott & Waldron Abstract and Title Company in Rankin, Texas. During those early years, he held every job there was to have in the title business, and in 1952, at the age of 19, he was promoted to his first management position at the Elliott & Waldron Abstract and Title Company (over west Texas Counties) in Big Lake, Texas. This in-depth understanding of how the business ran, and his true gift for working with people, understanding their business needs, and then successfully taking care of those needs, launched and sustained Don's title insurance business career for almost 50 years until his retirement in 2000. During this time he worked for the State Board of Insurance in the Liquidations Department in 1965, was the manager for Texas, New Mexico, and Oklahoma for the Title Insurance Company of Minnesota in 1967 where he started with no agents in Texas and became second in the state in number of agents and volume of premium in Texas. He moved to Minnesota from 1979 to 1981 to be Executive Vice President for the Title Insurance Company of Minnesota. He moved to Dallas and then Austin after buying a small title underwriting company, Southern Title Guaranty, where he was CEO from 1981 to 1989. From 1990 to 1999 he lived in San Antonio and was President of Alamo Title Insurance Company/Fidelity National Title Insurance. He was a dedicated, well-respected businessman whose handshake and word were as good as a contract. Each step of the way along Don's career, his unique combination of business sense and people skills made him a success. His peers recognized this success and elected him to be President of Title Underwriters of Texas in 1972, President of Texas Land Title Association in 1987-1988, Title Man of the Year in 1990, and Honorary Member for Sustained Meritorious Service to Texas Land Title Association in 1999. After his retirement from the title business in 2000, he continued to provide his leadership, now as a volunteer, as the Chairman of Trustees at the Wimberley United Methodist Church and as President of the Lost Springs Property Owners Association.

Don truly leaves behind a legacy of love, a legacy that meant the world to him. Family and friends will gather Wednesday evening from 5:30 to 7:30 to share stories, memories, and hugs, and then on Thursday, May 19, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. to celebrate his life. Visitation and celebration will be at Porter Loring Mortuary on McCullough in San Antonio. Interment will be in Mission Burial Park South.

In lieu of flowers the family asks that contributions be made to Wimberley United Methodist Church or Cornerstone Church in San Antonio.