Don Leslie Stevenson

Don L. Stevenson, joyfully entered Heaven’s gates, Saturday, April 4, 2015, the time of Easter sunrise in Jerusalem, Israel. He was 71. Don is survived by his wife of 9 months, Penny Ingram Stevenson of Flint, TX and the mother of his children, Gail Stevenson, of Jacksonville, TX; three children, Tyler Tanner and wife Ingrid of Los Angeles, CA, Garrett Stevenson and wife Lexi of Virginia Beach, VA and daughter Paige Stevenson Dyer and husband Christopher of Tyler, TX as well as his three grandsons, Gavin Trent Stevenson, Hunter Orris Stevenson and Brady Steven Cates. He is preceded in death by his parents, B.P. and Sally Stevenson and brother, Paul Wayne Stevenson, all of Irving, TX. Don was born in Dallas, TX on October 31, 1943. He graduated from Irving High School in 1961, Sam Houston State University in 1969 with a degree in photography; he was a member Phi Kappa Alpha. Additionally he earned his teaching certificate and completed some master’s work at Stephen F. Austin State University. Don was a veteran of the Vietnam War, serving in the U.S. Air Force from 1966-1968 as an x-ray technician. Don had two careers, the first as a journalist followed by a passion as an educator. He began his journalism career as a sports writer and photographer for The Dallas Morning News, followed by ads editor for the Polk County Enterprise, then found home in Tyler County as partner, general manager and one of the voices of Tyler County for KVLL radio in Woodville, TX from 1975-1989. During his 22 years in Tyler County he was a 2-time Rotary Club President and Chamber of Commerce President. As the Chamber president he was actively involved in securing the Gib Lewis Prison Unit located in Woodville, which included speaking before the Texas State Legislature. Don was a contributing writer and sports editor of the Tyler County Booster. He was honored by being named Tyler County’s Man of the Year and Boss of the Year. He and his son Garrett bicycled across Texas, Alabama and Mississippi, promoting the Tyler County Dogwood Festival. Don began his second career teaching 5th – 12th grades at Colmesneil ISD, followed by teaching English at Huntington High School, and retiring from Windham ISD, the Texas State Prison System. He spent his retirement years substitute teaching for and with his daughter Paige at Whitehouse High School, where his love of the students, staff, faculty and all WHS athletic teams became profound. He greeted students and friends with a hug or a fist-bump, making each and every one feel loved and appreciated. Don truly wanted to know about the person, he did so by bringing out his journalist side, he left no conversation before knowing where a person was born, went to school, attended church or what their talents and hobbies were. Above all, Don was a lover of his Lord and Savior, his family, students, church, high school and college athletics, the Texas Longhorns and Sam Houston State University Bearkats. A Celebration of Life concert, officiated by family friend Rev. Jim Maddox, featuring talented family and friends from Woodville, Jasper, Tyler and the DFW area as well as honored students and staff members of Whitehouse High School, will be held Sunday, April 26, 3:00 p.m. at Green Acres Baptist Church South Campus in Flint (Tyler) under the direction of Stewart Family Funeral Home. Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Phi Kappa Alpha fraternity of SHSU, members of the Woodville Rotary Club and students, staffs and faculty of Colmesneil and Whitehouse High Schools. The Don Stevenson Memorial Scholarship has been set up through East Texas Communities Foundation (ETCF). Donations may me made online at www.etcf.org or make checks payable to ETCF, 315 N. Broadway, Suite 210, Tyler, TX 75702, putting Don Stevenson Memorial Fund in the memo line.

Don Leslie Stevenson

October 31, 1943 - April 4, 2015