Donald Dean Sherman

Don was born February 27, 1937, in Bradley, Arkansas, to Norman and Naomi Sherman. The oldest of four children, he learned the value of hard work early in life. After graduating from high school in Atlanta, Texas, he worked alongside his father in the contracting business.

He joined the National Guard and then went on to work for General Motors in Arlington, but he eventually found the career he truly loved when he joined the Grand Prairie Police Department. He proudly served the citizens of Grand Prairie for 38 years, retiring with the rank of Lieutenant. He began his career during a time when Grand Prairie was still a much smaller town and police officers knew many of the people they served.

Don loved being a police officer. He valued the opportunity to help people, but just as important were the friendships and camaraderie he found among his fellow officers. Many of those friendships lasted the rest of his life.

He loved being a police officer, although he might have loved being a retired one even more!

Retirement opened the door to an entirely new chapter for Don. He owned several rental homes and genuinely enjoyed being a landlord. At his home on three and a half acres, there was almost always a large garden growing, and sometimes more than one. Don particularly loved his tomatoes, and some years there were more than he could possibly give away. He enjoyed driving around the property on his blue golf cart, keeping an eye on things and watching the gardens grow, then sharing the bounty with family, friends and neighbors.

And then there were Fridays at the barn.

For many years after retirement, fellow officers and longtime friends gathered at Don's barn on Fridays to play poker. The cards brought them together, but it was the friendships, stories, laughter and decades of shared history that kept the tradition going.

Don also loved a good casino. He made more than 70 trips to Las Vegas over the years, many of them with Maxine by his side. Closer to home, WinStar was another favorite destination. Whether it was Vegas, WinStar or a poker game at the barn, Don enjoyed the game, the people and, of course, the chance to win.

As a young man, Don was married, and from that marriage came his daughter, Diane.

Don then married his beloved wife, Maxine, with whom he shared 45 years of marriage. Together they built a life and family that included Laqueta, Deborah and Michael. Maxine was a wonderful cook, loved their gardens and especially loved spending time with their grandchildren. Don and Maxine enjoyed traveling together, from San Francisco to the Bahamas, along with cruises and many trips to Las Vegas.Through their travels, fishing, boating, cooking out, family gatherings and the life they built together in Grand Prairie, they gave their family a lifetime of memories.

Don loved football and was a devoted Dallas Cowboys fan. Sundays during football season often meant watching the game and cheering on his Cowboys. Win or lose (and we know which came more often!), football and the Cowboys were something Don simply loved to watch and talk about.

Don was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Maxine Sherman; his parents, Norman and Naomi Sherman; his sister, Norma Sherman; his son-in-law and dear friend, Ron Sanders; and his grandson, Jason Elwell.

He is survived by his children, Diane Sanders; Laqueta Meyer and husband Michael; Deborah George and husband Wayne; and Michael Jorgensen and wife Judi; his brothers, W.L. Sherman and Jimmy Sherman; and his brother-in-law, Albert Chandler.

He is also survived by his grandchildren, Austin Sanders and wife Taylor, Jenafer Langston and husband Billy, Jena Holtman and husband Corey, LJ Leonard, Christa Jennings, Jeremy Jorgensen, and Jared Jorgensen and wife Lindsay; his great-grandchildren, RJ Sanders, Kelsey Giler and husband Erick Giler, Khloe Langston and husband Jordon Campbell, Harlan Holtman, Graham Holtman, Annalise Holtman, Carson Leonard, Carter Leonard, Karlee, Rosie and Norah; and his great-great-grandson, Jaxon Campbell.

Don also leaves behind many wonderful nieces and nephews, extended family, lifelong friends and fellow officers.

Nearly nine decades gave Don plenty of time to build a life uniquely his own. He worked hard, served his community, loved his family and friends, enjoyed his retirement, managed his gardens, managed his properties, played a lot of poker, drank a little Bud Light, watched a lot of football and made more than a few trips to Las Vegas.

It was, in every sense, a life well lived.

Donations may be made to the Grand Prairie Police Department Alumni Association, PO Box 532752, Grand Prairie, Texas, US, or to First Baptist Church Grand Prairie, 950 Mayfield Road, Grand Prairie, Texas, 75052.