Donald Tracy Brown

Donald Tracy Brown, 93, of Tyler, Texas went home to be with Jesus on August 23, 2026. Services will be held at Colonial Hills Baptist Church in Tyler on Tuesday, September 1 at 2:00 p.m. with Pastor Jason White officiating. Visitation will be September 1 at 1:00 p.m at the church. Graveside service at 4:30 p.m. at Concord Cemetery, Jonesville, Texas. Don was born on October 11, 1932 in Shreveport, Louisiana to Mae Belle Hawthorn Brown and Denton T. Brown. He grew up in Shreveport, graduating from Fair Park High School where he excelled in football and basketball. He earned a football scholarship to Louisiana Tech University in Ruston, Louisiana. Don graduated from Louisiana Tech with a B.S. degree in Business Management. In 1955, Don went to work for Texas Eastern Transmission Corporation in Shreveport. He enjoyed his job, and also looked forward every day to meeting other businessmen in downtown Shreveport at the YMCA to play basketball, a sport Don loved. During his time in Shreveport, he also coached Junior League football, basketball, and baseball for many years at Arthur Circle Elementary, a volunteer job he loved. Don met his beloved wife, Sharon, at The Single Set at First Methodist Church in Shreveport. They were married in 1968 and were devoted to each other for the next 58 years. Don loved to fish, hunt, and participate in athletics. He often said though that his favorite recreation was reading and yard work. In 1975, Don and Sharon were transferred to Houston with their jobs in the oil and gas industry. Don was promoted to gas buyer for Texas Eastern. His job as a contract negotiator gave him the opportunity to become personally acquainted with many representatives of both producer and pipeline companies throughout the gas industry. With his welcoming smile, fun-loving personality, and diligent work ethic, he earned a reputation in the gas industry as a trustworthy and capable negotiator. In 1989, Don retired from Texas Eastern after 35 years of service. Don and Sharon moved to Tyler where they were members of Colonial Hills Baptist Church for 35 years. Don volunteered to do yard work at the church with a group of men who called themselves “The Yard Crew”. He enjoyed serving snow cones at VBS, singing in two choirs, and participating in Christmas pageants. He especially enjoyed initiating a church fellowship called “Country Friday Night” where church members used their talents to sing country western songs and enjoy an evening of food and fellowship. Always ready to have fun, Don donned a curly wig and sang Conway Twitty’s “Hello Darlin”. He loved his church and friends in the Prayer Warriors Sunday School Class. Most of all, he cherished times with family and his grandchildren, Erica and Dustin. He had more fun taking them to the zoo, swimming, picking blueberries, picnics on the porch, watching Jurassic Park, or just being together. Throughout his life, Don made others laugh by telling his stories. He had a talent for putting people at ease and pulling people together to get to know each other. He had a joyful spirit and was steadfast in his faith and devotion to those he loved. He will be greatly missed by those who knew and loved him. Don is survived by his wife, Sharon; son, Donald T. Brown, Jr. (Deana); daughter Toni Deas ( David); granddaughter, Erica Brown; grandson Dustin Brown (Jasmine); great-grandson, Dax T. Brown; sister, Dennise Aiello (Bob), and numerous nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by parents Mae Belle and Denton Brown, brother and sister-in-law Harley and Eloise Brown, nephew Greg Brown. The family would like to express their gratitude to Don’s caregivers Martha, Fernando, Gio, Judith, Rei, Noel, Kya and Angel who provided compassionate care, laughter, and God’s love to Don’s last days. Pallbearers: Robert Aiello, Danny Aiello, Dustin Brown, Aaron Milner, Les Dees, Ben Norris Honorary Pallbearers: Ken McMullen, Woody Wright, J. D. Richardson

Donald Tracy Brown

October 11, 1932 - August 23, 2026