Donald E. Fagan

Donald Earl Fagan, age 85, died Wednesday, April 8, 2015 in San Antonio, TX. He was born in Houston, TX, the first of three children of Leona Margaret Mutchler & Albert Earl Fagan. After graduating from Lamar High School, Don initially studied engineering at University of Houston. However, after two years he changed his major to philosophy and was accepted at Southern Methodist University in 1950. During the intervening summer, he worked at a Methodist work camp in Pharr, TX, where he fell in love with Carol Jean Brill, a native of Milwaukee, WI.

In 1952, he graduated from SMU, married Carol on August 30th and moved to Durham, NC, where they both earned Masters Degrees from Duke Divinity School in 1955. After two years as the Director of the Methodist Student Movement at Texas Christian University, Don, Carol and their first two children lived on the SMU campus as he earned his Master of Sacred Theology at Perkins School of Theology. At his graduation in 1959, he was unable to find suitable employment in his field of study and so joined his father in the oil & gas business in Houston, where he worked until his retirement in 1991.

Don was exceptionally well-read and knowledgeable in virtually any topic. As a child of the Great Depression and WWII, he was frugal and creative in his use of resources. He was a wood worker, auto mechanic, electrician, computer programmer, bookkeeper, rifleman, aviation enthusiast, photographer, historian, theologian, classical music aficionado and teacher. Eager and capable in guiding almost any project, Don regularly surprised those who sought his help with his level of commitment and expertise. His kindness, mixed with an easy and unique laugh, made him an invaluable addition to any effort.

Don's acceptance of the concept of original sin and strong sense of personal responsibility led him to a robust conservative philosophy that he shared in a gentle and thoughtful manner while embracing people of good will without regard to their political views. He would also encourage everyone to understand that the freedom & prosperity we enjoy today was unimaginable prior to 1776, that this is the nature of American exceptionalism & that maintaining the intention of the Founders requires active vigilance. He encouraged the reading of the Declaration of Independence each 4th of July so that the lessons of history are not lost to the passage of time.

Above all, Don loved and cared for his family. His profound love for Carol was apparent in word and deed to all who encountered him. Their lives together spanned 52 years of marriage until her death in 2004. His three children were the beneficiaries of consistent guidance and discipline intended to build character and self-sufficiency but his firm hand was mixed with a soft touch and a sense of humor. The Don Fagan family traveled every summer to visit relatives, friends, National Parks and historic venues in almost every state of the USA.

His love and care was also lavished on his extended family and he naturally became the primary connector of this broadly dispersed group. Likewise, his involvement in the Methodist Church, a cornerstone of his life, led to innumerable friendships and valued relationships. Don uplifted and reassured us by the joy and gratitude he found in each and every gift bestowed by the Creator. We recall in Paul's letter to the Ephesians 2:8: "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is a gift of God".

Don will be particularly missed for his sense of strategy and order, unparalleled integrity, encyclopedic knowledge, eloquence, cowboy hats, and easy and hearty laugh, all with Mozart playing in the background. His children & grandchildren will especially miss his ever-present, inimitable and playful devotion epitomizing the family tradition to "take care of the children".

Don is preceded in death by the love of his life, Carol and his sister, Fern Arnold. He is survived by his children Karis McCarroll and husband, Duncan, Paul Fagan and wife, Melinda, and Erin Richter and husband, Carlos; grandchildren, Michael and Allison McCarroll, Hayden, Harrison and Hunter Richter, and Sloane and Reese Fagan; sister, Lila Clark.

Please send pictures, stories and communications about the Memorial Service to [email protected]. The Memorial Service will be held at 1:00 PM on Saturday, May 16, 2015 at the Porter Loring Chapel, 1101 McCullough Ave., San Antonio, TX 78212; a reception will follow.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Autism Community Network - San Antonio (http://www.acn-sa.org/).