Don C Deming II

Don C Deming, II, born Oct. 31, 1940, passed away from cardiac arrest early on the morning of Sunday, Sept. 30, 2012. He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Donna, one daughter and three sons plus their spouses, three grandsons, two more grand-daughters by marriage, multiple nephews, nieces, one sister, one brother in-law and many other much-loved and enjoyed family and friends. He was the patriarch of a large and robust family, and will be missed terribly.

Don was a gregarious, charismatic individual who made almost anyone he met into a friend. He enjoyed life and people, was successful in family, in business, and in finding happiness.

After extensive travel early in life, Don attended Walnut Grove High School, in Southwest Missouri, where he was a star basketball player, homecoming king, and senior class president; he then served in the Air Force for 4 years, including 3 years stationed in Bermuda. He remained fond of Bermuda his entire life and vacationed there with his wife.

After his service in the military, Don visited the old homestead in Missouri briefly and then headed to California, where he lived a great life in 1960s Los Angeles, driving his beloved Austin Healey convertible for weekends in Las Vegas and learning the ropes of the construction industry during the post-war housing boom there.

Don always enjoyed the challenge of building businesses rather than conforming to a set schedule or answering to an employer; he was a serial entrepreneur, starting companies throughout his life, mostly (but not all) in the construction industry; he was always supported by Donna, who complimented his ability to close deals and finish projects with a firm grasp on the books and administration. From 1996 to present he led the growth of a successful family business in the multi-family construction sector, building thousands of units throughout Florida. He was able to recruit his children into the business after supporting them through their educations; working with them in management, he built a business which employed hundreds of individuals directly and through sub-contractors. Don loved his work, especially the interaction with his many employees, clients and vendors. Though he was 72, his sudden death occurred only two weeks after he was last on a jobsite in Arlington, VA.

Not a member of a church during the last years of his life, Don was a quietly religious man. His preferred reading material at night was his bible, he actively sought out study guides and other coursework related to bible themes and spent a great deal of time in contemplation. A Southern Baptist by inclination, he was quick to discuss religion if someone else brought up the topic, but mindful of not pressing his views on others if they preferred not.

His politics were conservative--the family joked that the obit should say “in lieu of donations please just vote Republican in November.” He was an avid supporter of limited government and non-partisan in his belief that the political leadership of his country had failed spectacularly. He was a writer of letters to Congressmen and Senators and strongly felt that an essential part of democracy was to make oneself heard.

Don was a great husband and friend to his wife Donna for 45 years, always loving and affectionate and loyal. It was a common site at their household to find him in the kitchen talking to her animatedly about the events of the day or their children and grandchildren, or giving her a hug and a kiss.

While they were growing up, Don told his children that they could do anything in life but that the most important thing was to find happiness. He supported them through all of their interests and pursuits. He invested in and helped build a restaurant for his daughter and projects in solar and biofuels for his sons. The most striking characteristics about both Don and Donna in their relations with their children were unconditional love and support, and an ability to be provide a base from which to attack life—whether college or businesses or hobbies—without ever being overbearing or controlling. They simply showed great affection and love and allowed their children to flourish.

While the work ethic and intelligence and morality of a man are important, it would be remiss to write an obituary about Don Deming without mentioning his joyful disposition and sense of humor. Don was always laughing, always giving some good-natured grief to a friend or grandchild, always finding humor in the situations around him. His ability to laugh while working hard and getting things done at home or at work made him a pleasure to be around for many people.

It is a testament to this characteristic in Don that so many people from so many walks of life formed a strong bond with him. Extended family members, his loyal, long-time employees, the many younger men in his career to looked to him as a role model, his company’s clients, neighbors, or even people only tangentially exposed to him: so many people were affected positively by Don Deming and continued relationships with him over decades; he was a force for good in this world.

Don had a cancer scare a couple of years before he died. It turned out to be a false positive, but he remarked at the time that he would surely miss everyone, but he was more than ready to go and didn’t fear it all. He discussed it as non-chalantly as if the subject were the weather. He will miss so many that love him, especially his beloved grandchildren and his wife. But he has gone to a better place to wait for them, and to continue to laugh and enjoy the simple act of being happy.

In lieu of flowers, feel free to make a donation to Compassion International (www.compassion.com) where he was a long-time supporter of a little girl and her family in Africa.