Donald M. Horton

It is with profound sadness that the family of Donald M. Horton announces his passing on Tuesday, June 25, 2019 at the age of 79. Don will be lovingly remembered by his wife of 54 years, Louise Kay Horton and his children, Laura (Kristian) Haugvoll, Matt (Katy) Horton and Ashley (Kevin) Cox. Don, aka Pawpaw, will forever be remembered by his seven grandchildren, Tori, Tara, Tanner, Tate, Kayla, Travis, Amelia and brother, Mike and brother-in-law Jimmy (Cindy) Kay.

Don was born on November 6, 1939 to Sam and Lucy Horton in the small town of Hawley, TX, north of Abilene. He graduated from Abilene High School in 1958. After graduating high school, he joined the United States Navy where he served from 1958-1962, stationed in Japan. After his Navy service he attended McMurray University from 1962-1964 and the University of Texas from 1964-1967 graduating with a degree in Civil Engineering. He married his love, Louise Kay on August 22, 1965. In 1967 they moved to Big Spring, TX where he worked for American Petrofina as a project engineer. While in Big Spring he joined and was active in the Jaycee’s and the Staked Plains Masonic Lodge. After moving to Houston in 1973, he began working for Union Texas Petroleum where he spent most of his career (1973-1987). After leaving Union Texas Petroleum he worked for CDI Engineering and Shell Oil. He was an active and dedicated member of the Pleasant Hill Masonic Lodge and served as Master in 1997-98. After retirement, he “worked” in his favorite job as a marshal on the Pine Crest and Memorial golf courses.

Don got involved with youth sports when his children were young, coaching baseball in the Spring Branch-Memorial Sports Association and Spring Branch National Little League, often molding rag-tag groups of underdogs into championship-caliber teams. He loved his players, keeping in contact with many, even years after their time together on the Diamond had passed, and developing many life-long friendships along the way. He often recounted with the greatest fondness the good times he had teaching and passing the game of Baseball on to the next generation.

Don was an avid hunter, fisherman and golfer. He loved the game of golf almost as much as he loved his family. He was truly in his element on the golf course with a golf club in hand.

He will be dearly missed.

A celebration of life for Donald will be held Saturday, July 6, 2019 from 2:00 p.m. at Memorial Oaks Funeral Home, 13001 Katy Fwy, Houston, TX 77079.

In lieu of flowers, the family humbly request that donations be made in Don's honor to one of the following charities: www.tunnel2towers.org or www.thefirsttee.org

The one thing that meant the most to Don was the time he spent with his family. He once said that “time is the most important and most abundant factor in a man’s life, the very one of which he should make the most.” This, he achieved.