He was known to many as Don, Papa, Pop, Uncle Don and Coach.
Don is preceded in death by his wife of 67 years, Joan Marie (Scott) Squires, his parents Leon and Mary Alice (Fendley) Squires, his brother Max Squires, his sister Mary Jean (Squires) Parnell and his very best friends.
He is survived by his four daughters, Donna Anthony (Rob), Libby Hoffman (Joel), Cathy Kelley and Peggy Buggs (Tobbie), 10 grandchildren, Amy Coelho, Josh Edwards, Megan Simonelli, Carley Bohannon, Jamie Edwards, Robbie Anthony, Murphy Buggs, Mary McKinney, Caitlin Gorman and Julia Maddox, 15 great-grandchildren, nephews, cousins and friends.
He was born in his grandparent’s house on Fendley Hill in Fulton, Alabama. When he was two years old, Don’s parents moved to Mobile and found employment at Brookley Field. He spent his childhood in Prichard Homes and was a proud graduate of Vigor High School class of 1956, where he played baseball, was a cheerleader and served as a Dandy for the Azalea Trail Maids.
During Don’s high school years, his parents moved to Saraland where he and his father built their family home on Bayou Sara Avenue. After graduation, Don worked for Warrior and Gulf on tugboats and later at Scott Paper Company where he worked as a crane operator in the wood yard, later in the tissue mill and retired as a machinist after 30 years of employment.
Don met his future bride, Joan Scott, through mutual friends in high school. This particular group of friends frequently enjoyed spending time at the popular gathering spot called Johnson’s Lake where Joan taught Don to dance the Jitterbug. They enjoyed dancing so much they often entered and won many Jitterbug contests.
Don married Joan in 1958 in Little Flower Catholic Church. They soon started their family and together they raised four daughters. Don and Joan moved their growing family from Mobile to Saraland in 1963 where they lived until they moved into assisted living at Somerby in 2021.
Throughout their marriage, Don and Joan continued to dance the Jitterbug. They danced at any gathering where there was music. Every wedding, regardless of who the bride and groom were, Don and Joan were the stars of the dance floor. Don was a willing dance partner for all of his daughters and granddaughters. He would even let them lead!
Although Don worked several jobs over the years, his favorite line of work was coaching girls’ softball in the city of Saraland. He was instrumental in helping to form and build a program for girls. He had a strong reputation for excellence, creating lasting memories for many and helping mold and shape a generation of female athletes. He coached his team, known as the Eagles, with strong values emphasizing sportsmanship and respect for fellow teammates all while teaching them how to play the sport. His teams won many league championships.
Don could be found at any number of sports venues from softball fields to volleyball courts for his own girls and later baseball, softball, football and soccer fields and more volleyball courts for his grandchildren. No matter the venue, or the team, Don always cheered for everyone’s children on both sides of the competition.
In addition to Don’s role as coach, he was ever the teacher and mentor. He taught his grandsons to love the outdoors and to hunt. He taught his girls how to do anything he would have taught a son to do if he had had a son. His children and grandchildren knew that their Daddy and their Papa knew how to do anything and everything. And they all knew without a doubt that he hung the moon. Because he actually did. He will be deeply missed by so many because he loved big and he loved unconditionally. God rest his soul.
Pall Bearers: Robbie Anthony, Josh Bohannon, Murphy Buggs, Jesse Edwards, Josh Edwards, Donald Paul Maddox.
A Rosary will be said at Radney Funeral Home - Mobile, on Friday, March 27, 2026, at 4:30pm followed by a visitation from 5:00 to 7:00pm.
Funeral Service will be held in the chapel of Radney Funeral Home - Mobile on Saturday March 28, 2026, beginning at 11:00am. Interment will be held in Catholic Cemetery, Mobile, Alabama.
