Don was born on April 19, 1957 in Midland, Michigan to Douglas J Paxton and Charlotte Ruth (Canell) Paxton. Don was the 3rd of 6 siblings. He graduated from Carrollton High School in Saginaw, Michigan in 1975. He married Michelle Henrichsen on August 20, 1981 in the Oakland, California Temple. They are parents of 7 children Tyler, Natalie, Jared (Kylee), Keith, Audrey (Lance Mitchell ), Spencer (Grace), and Riley (Kristi) and 12 grandchildren – Ava, Violet, North, Evelyn, Oliver, Miles, Jovie, Jeremiah, Charlotte, Guinevere, Edwin, and Vera.
From a young age Don enjoyed learning how things work by building, fixing and repairing them. He graduated from Brigham Young University in 1985 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering and from Utah State University with an MBA in 1996. He began his career as a literal rocket scientist with Morton Thiokol and then worked as an automotive safety design engineer at Autoliv, authoring several patents, until retiring after 34 years
He instilled his love of learning and curiosity in his children, including them in car maintenance and repair, home improvement projects, and cooking his favorite dishes. He is remembered by his children as always going above and beyond to help them in any way they needed. He enjoyed helping them use their imagination to build and create elaborate things such as giant bug replicas or cell models for school assignments, over the top valentine boxes, and intricate Halloween costumes. As his children grew older, Don was frequently helping them with their own home repairs and renovations.
Don enjoyed camping and traveling throughout the United States and visiting different countries to share and experience the world with Michelle and their children. In the last few years he was able to complete dream trips with Michelle like cruising the Panama Canal and hiking Machu Picchu. Don also had a love for music and he expressed that by singing songs to Michelle and playing his guitar around the campfire. Don cherished being a father and grandpa and spending time with his 12 grandchildren, whom he enjoyed singing to, reading to, and holding on his lap.
Don served faithfully in many callings for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, including as a missionary in Milan Italy from 1976-1978. He loved working with the church youth and volunteered with Boy Scouts of America in several capacities for nearly 40 years, including helping each of his sons achieve the rank of Eagle Scouts.
Don is survived by his wife, Michelle, his sister Mickey (Doug) Vermillion, and brothers Mark (Susan) Paxton and Laurence (Victoria) Paxton, his children and 12 grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his parents and his brothers, Charles and Michael.
Don's family will welcome all to a visitation on Thursday May 22, 2025 from 3-8pm at Pixley Funeral Home, located at 322 West University Drive in downtown Rochester, Michigan. A funeral service will be held on Friday May 23, 2025 at 11am (10am instate) at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, located at 1610 Brewster Road, in Rochester HIlls, Michigan. Interment will follow at McCafferty Cemetery in Bruce Township, Michigan.
Memorial contributions may be made in Don's honor to the Big Brothers and Big Sisters of the Greater Lakes Bay Region - Saginaw Branch, online at www.bbbsgreatlakesbay.org . The Big Brothers and Sisters organization was instrumental for Don growing up and he thought highly of their work.
