Donald Brotherton

Don was born in Longstreet, Louisiana on August 15, 1930. He graduated from Centenary College in Shreveport, Louisiana in January 1953. Don then joined the Navy, and graduated from the Naval Officers Candidate School in New Port Rhode Island in 1953.After Officers Candidate School, Don attended several advanced Navy schools including Navy photo intelligence school in Washington DC. He soon served as a photo-intelligence officer. During his Naval career, he alternated duties on carriers such as the USS Lexington, USS Yorktown, the USS Midway and several other carriers. In this role, he served as the Intelligence officer on the admiral’s staff for the Carrier Division Task Force 77, Commander US 7th Fleet that was the in charge of the Carrier Task Force in the South Pacific. The Task Force 77, 7th Fleet patrolled the waters of the South China Sea off the coast of China to prevent invasion of Taiwan during the Korean War.After leaving the Navy he moved to Baton Rouge, where he married his wife Doris L. Brotherton and continued his studies in Geology, later graduating with a Masters in Geology from LSU. Don worked briefly in New Orleans for Tidewater Oil Company (Getty) and was transferred to Midland Texas in 1961 where he served as the District Development Geologist. Don formed Brotherton Production Company in 1975 and drilled, owned and operated a number of wells in West Texas. Don was a member of the Society of Independent Petroleum Geologists, West Texas GPS Society & the Permian Basin Petroleum Association.

Don is survived by his wife Doris; His six children – Joan Brem and husband Henry of Midland, Jane Weldon and husband John (deceased) of Midland, Debbie Garner and husband DeWayne of Austin, Michael Brotherton and wife Margaret of San Marcos, Patrick Brotherton of Dallas, Jim Brotherton and wife Shannon of San Marcos; Eleven grandchildren; eight great grandchildren; and his brother Al Brotherton of Lafayette.

Don spent a lot of time at their condo in South Padre Island with his wife Doris.

His other interests include: Outdoor Nature Photography, Fishing, Sailing his Hobie Cat and Playing Tennis with his wife Doris and their friends. Later in life, Don applied for a Trademark to venture into the greeting card business with aspirations to promote his long held belief to: Enjoy Living, which he named the brand.

Funeral services will be held 2:00 pm, Friday December 14, 2012 at Ellis Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will follow at Resthaven Memorial Park.In lieu of flowers memorial donations can be made to: Hospice of Midland, PO Box 2621, Midland, Texas 79702. Wounded Warrior Project, PO Box 758517, Topeka, Kansas 66675 or www.woundedwarriorproject.org