Don Clare Nixon, 93, a longtime resident of Jacksonville, slipped peacefully away on May 15, 2013. Born on September 4, 1919 to Clare Hill Nixon and Grace MacFarlane Nixon in Flint, Michigan, the Nixon’s moved to Arlington, Florida in 1926. As a young boy of 13, Don, along with his lifelong friend Walter Babcock, was entrusted with carrying the mail daily by boat from the foot of Arlington Road across the St. Johns River to Beaver Street & back since there was no bridge at that time. Don was involved in establishing the Arlington Volunteer Fire Department wearing badge # 11. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1941 & served under General George C. Marshall in China during World War II. While stationed in Key West, Florida, Don met & married the love of his life, Marie Natalie Motes; they became the proud parents of two lovely daughters. After his honorable discharge from military service, Don was in the grocery business as a buyer for Clark and Lewis Wholesale Foods, a loyal & dedicated employee for 35 years until his retirement in 1981.
