Donald Wright Mixon

Donald Wright Mixon, 83 years old, a resident of Bothell, Washington, reposed in Christ Jesus Monday, 5 July 2021. Donald was at home with his dear wife, Grace, and daughter Ellen. His Blessed Savior Jesus called him out of this life quietly while he rested in bed.

Donald, who was known affectionately as Buddy by his parents and siblings, was born 18 December 1937 in Fitzgerald, Georgia, to Alonzo Wright and Thelma Amelia (Worth) Mixon. Buddy was raised and spent his young adult life in and around Fitzgerald, Georgia, a small southern town in south-central Georgia. He was proud of his southern heritage and never lost his south-central Georgia drawl. Donald was, to his northern family, a true southern gentleman.

Growing up in a small Georgia agricultural community, Buddy learned early what it meant to work hard for the necessities of life, to be thankful to the Lord for what He provides, to cherish the gift of family, and to treat others with truthfulness and respect. He instilled these values in his children, Gene, Lora, and Ellen, from an early age. Buddy often spoke with deep love and affection about his parents, Alonzo and Thelma Mixon, sharing with his children and wife the precious experiences and memories of his childhood.

One of the experiences of his childhood that Buddy shared with his children as a lesson in industry and fortitude was his and his brother Jimmy’s snow cone business. Their father, Alonzo Mixon, got them set up with an icebox cart for selling snow cones. Now, one must have experienced for themselves the oppressive summer heat and humidity of south-central Georgia to truly appreciate the moral of this experience. Buddy’s children had. Buddy and Jimmy would begin the day by pushing the cart down to the ice plant in town. Depending on the day and how sales went, they would return to the ice plant a few more times that day. Set with ice, flavoring syrup, and paper cones these two young lads would begin their rounds around Fitzgerald, Georgia. Through the downtown business area, out to the tobacco warehouses, they would push their cart in the blistering heat. Often evenings and on Fridays and Saturdays, they would station themselves outside the picture show. Buddy would rehearse to his children how at the end of those hot summer days there wouldn’t be a single piece of clothing on their bodies that wasn’t soaked with sweat like they had jumped in a pond. He would instruct his children that being uncomfortable and tired was part of doing the best you can at whatever the task. To always stay calm, to enjoy sweat.

On 2 November 1956 at the age of 19, a little more than a month before his 20th birthday, Buddy entered the United States Air Force. This was the initial event that would lead him to move to the Seattle area of Washington State. Buddy served his military indoctrination, boot camp, at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas. He served the remainder of his four-year enlistment at Amarillo Air Force Base, Amarillo, Texas, in the 3376 School Squadron. On 1 November 1960, Buddy was honorably discharged from the USAF and returned home to Fitzgerald, Georgia.

When Buddy returned to Fitzgerald, he went back to his old job at the Monarch Company. While in the Air Force, he had begun a lifelong friendship with Don and Dot Robinson. Don and Dot had moved to Alderwood, Washington, after the Air Force. In 1964 Buddy decided to drive out to Washington and visit them. He didn’t return to Georgia until his honeymoon in 1966.

Don met Grace while they both worked at Sunset Manufacturing in downtown Seattle on First Avenue. Don recounted many a time how their first meeting took place. When he entered the elevator one day, there Grace was, in Don’s words, “the most beautiful lady I had ever seen.” He thought to himself at that moment, “I am going to marry her.” Later Buddy would refer to her as his “Princess Grace.”

On 29 January 1966, Donald Wright Mixon and Grace Ellen Carlson were joined together in holy matrimony. It was at that moment a 55-year and 5-month commitment to love and cherish each other began. The Lord blessed this holy union with three children: Gene Wright, Lora Lee, and Ellen Marie.

Don and Grace’s love for one another was firm, a love that flowed from the common faith that rested in their Lord Jesus Christ. By the certainty of God’s grace, Don spent the rest of his life here tending and caring for his wife and children. Don and Grace moved to Georgia with their young family for a period of time to be near Don’s family. Upon returning to Washington, Don and Grace lived the remainder of their life together in the south Snohomish County area. Don worked for more than 30 years at Roffe Ski-Wear in downtown Seattle.

In April of 2020, Don’s beautiful lady Grace suffered a major stroke. Don dedicated himself to caring for her until his strength left him seven weeks prior to reposing in his Lord. When the diagnosis of terminal cancer was made, Don pushed himself to the very last hours. In his words, “It’s going to be okay. I don’t want your mom or you children to worry.”

Don was baptized as an adult and was a member of the Seattle Apostolic Lutheran Church until the day he reposed in his Blessed Lord Jesus Christ. Don’s Christian witness was one of faith that clings to Christ Jesus and the promise of forgiveness and life to all who rest in Christ.

Donald Wright Mixon is survived by Grace, his wife of 55 years, of Bothell, WA; son Gene and Aurora Mixon of Benton City, WA; daughter Lora and Ed Wicks of Duvall, WA; daughter Ellen Bynum of Bothell, WA; 7 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

Buddy is also survived by siblings Betty Douglas of Ocilla, GA; Martha Ellen and Buddy Jones of Albany, GA; Jimmy and Sandra Mixon of Waterloo, GA; Amelia Rose (Midge) Adams of Dallas, GA; Irma and Aaron Royals of Axson, GA; and 15 nephews and nieces and many grandnephews and grandnieces.

Buddy was preceded in death by his father and mother, Alonzo and Thelma Mixon; brother Gene Mixon; father- and mother-in-law John and Sally Carlson; and by one week, sister-in-law Martha Carlson.

Memorial contributions may be given for the care of his love Grace Mixon, in c/o Ellen Bynum.

Funeral Service will be held Thursday 22 July 2021 at 1:00 pm:

Seattle Apostolic Lutheran Church

19555 Fremont Avenue North

Shoreline, WA 98133

Interment following at:

Abbey View Memorial Park

3601 Alaska Road

Brier, WA 98036

There will be a reception following the interment at the church. All are welcome.