Donald Daugherity

On August 21, 2026, at the age of 87 years, Donald Gale Daugherity left his earthly home to enter his heavenly home. A visitation will be held on Wednesday, August 26 from 6-8 at Dutton Funeral Home in Iowa Park. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, August 27 at 10:00 am at Dutton Funeral Home. Burial will take place immediately following the service at Highland Cemetery in Iowa Park.

Don passed peacefully in the home he designed, loved and lived in for 57 years.

He was born on October 11, 1938, in Sumner, Missouri in the family farmhouse. He moved to Texas at the age of 9 months with his parents, George and Hallie Daugherity, and older sister, Nadine. He grew up in the Pleasant Valley community and graduated from Iowa Park High School in 1957. He proudly wore his Hawk uniform, #81, and earned himself the nickname “Captain Fearless”!

He spent six years in the Army, Army National Guard and Army Reserves.

On June 28, 1959, he married his high school sweetheart and love of his life, Gayla Lynn, in Iowa Park, Texas. They were married just short of 40 years at the time of her passing in 2000.

Together, they had two daughters, Darla and Dayna. Because of their version of the Three Bears, he became Poppa to his daughters and remained that way throughout his life. Their version did not include Baby Bear but rather, Poppa Bear, Momma Bear and Darla Bear. Five years later, Dayna Bear entered the world and the story only grew.

In 1969, he and Gayla built their dream home where he resided until the moment he took his last breath. He took pride in his home, his land, his profession and his family.

For a short time, he worked as a cameraman for KSYD, now known as Channel 6, in Wichita Falls. During his time there, he became an acquaintance of the Burns family in Wichita Falls and he was asked to design a Santa house for their Christmas display. Since then, generations of families have viewed that Santa house, now a part of the MSU-Burns Fantasy of Lights. His love for architecture led him to work as a draftsman working for some very prestigious architectural firms in Wichita Falls. He earned his architectural license in 1969 and went on tobecome a well-respected and accomplished architect. He partnered with a long time associate and opened Daugherity and Glover in 1978,In 1993, he opened DDI and Associates where he remained active until 1997 when he retired to take care of Gayla. They traveled after his

retirement, mostly to their second home in Sumner, Missouri where he spent cherished time with his cousins and friends.

After retirement and Gayla’s passing, he worked part time for some of the firms in Wichita Falls working for many acquaintances that he had mentored over the years. Each of them were dear friends and remained so through the years.

In 1984, he became Poppa Bear to another generation when his first granddaughter Melanie was born. In 1997, his first grandson, Jaydon was born making him a Poppa Bear once again!

In 2010, another generation entered his life with the birth of his first great-grandchild Mason, followed over the next few years by Ty, Elijah and Wesley, four great grandsons who he cherished.

In addition to family, Don loved his many friends from his high schoolfriends, to his business acquaintances, Muleskinners, Wichita County Mounted Patrol, the cigar shop and his neighbors.

Don was an avid outdoorsman. He loved hunting and fishing and shared many memorable hunting trips with friends, but his most treasured trips were spent in Missouri with friends and family and especially his cousin, Jim Daugherity. Not sure how much hunting was done but know those were special times for him.

Don is survived by daughters, Darla Jordan and Dayna Johnston and husband John, granddaughter, Melanie Trent and husband, Brett,

grandson Jaydon Johnston and wife Carley, four great-grandsons, Mason and Ty Trent and Elijah and Wesley Johnston, numerous nieces and nephews and his dog, Gus.

The family would like to thank the staff at Healing Hands Healthcare and Visiting Angels. We were blessed to have the best caregivers and nurses ever.

We don’t want to leave anyone out but we do want to mention a few.

First, our friend Debbie, who stepped in from day one to take care ofPop so we could continue to work as was his wish. They developed avery special bond and we will always be grateful to her for her sense of humor and for keeping him smiling.

Teresa, thank you so much for sitting with us and comforting us during his last few days and helping us stay sane!

To the staff at Healing Hands Healthcare and Hospice, Madilynn, Ashley H., Macey, Rachel, Areli, and Marci and so many others, thankyou for adopting him as your Pop too!

To his Visiting Angels, Juan, Brytnie, Kristen, and all the others who stepped in. Again, thank you will never be enough!

Serving as pallbearers will be John James, Ben Adams, Troy Secord, Alex Minelli, Bruce Smith, Billy Wachsmann, Juan Perez and Dan Daugherity.

Honorary pallbearers will be Jim Daugherity, Randy Griest, Don Portman and Steve Harris.