© Glenn

© Jo Aguirre

Jake and Iris Donaldson

Mrs R. J. (Iris) Donaldson

Enid Morning News Enid, Garfield Co., OK

Feb. 23, 1982

Submitted by: Lois Burdick

Mrs. R.J. Donaldson,(Iris), 56, 3313 Lookout Dr. died early sunday in an OKC hospital after a short illness.

Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday with the Rev. Bill Kious officiating and burial will be in the Waukomis Cemetery.

Mrs. Donaldson was born May 10 1925 to Lee and Leah Dillingham, She graduated from Pioneer school before moving to Enid in 1967. She attended Enid Business College. The former Iris Dillingham, she married " Jake " Donaldson Feb. 14, 1946/

She was a member of the Christian Union Church where she was the organist and taught sunday school.

She is survived by her husband, Jake; four daughters: Cynthia, Suzanne, Candace and Sara; eight grandchildren:Edward Rucker, Brandon Hock, Justin Parrish, Stephanie Parrish, Robbie Zaslaw, Rachel Parrish, Michael and Michelle Rowland; two brothers Thomas and Burl Dillingham; and a sister Mrs. Don (Naoma G.) Snow.

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© Jo Aguirre

Jake Donaldson

Jake DONALDSON

Enid News and Eagle Enid, Garfield Co., OK

January 26, 1928 page 1, column 3

Submitted by: Jo Aguirre

R.J. (Jake) Donaldson went to be with his Lord, on Thursday, March 12, 2004. He was born March 22, 1922, to A.W. and Amy Lee Cartmell Donaldson in the Fairmont area. He was one of eight children and the three youngest sons (Tom, Don and Jake) are still remembered for their mischievous antics. (They referred to themselves as the "Dalton Boys", and oh, the stories they have told!)

Jake attended Prairie Gem his elementary years and graduated from Pioneer School in 1940. He entered the U.S. Army in November 1942 and served in the Big Red One during World War II. He served in Morocco, Germany, France and England. His family never tired of the stories he retold as a young soldier serving in World War II. Three years later, he returned home and soon married Iris Dillingham in her family's home south of Pioneer School on February 14,1946.

He began farming and cattle trading, a natural following in father's footsteps. In 1954, Jake became co-owner and operator of Covington Livestock Auction. Being a self-taught auctioneer, Jake called sales at Covington Livestock Auction, Enid Livestock Auction and other livestock auctions in Oklahoma when needed. He spent thirty years in the livestock business in Covington and retired when he sold the company. Jake dearly loved the clientele and the many friends that he served.

Jake and Iris raised four daughters in the Pioneer Community, Cynthia, Suzanne, Candace and Sara. Jake was proud of his daughters, he attended their basketball games and other school events. The girls always were very proud to have this special man as their father. After Iris, his wife of 36 years passed away in 1982, Jake met and then married Mary Goodwin on August 14, 1983. Jake became the stepfather of Kenny, Kelly and Ginger.

Jake never knew a stranger, and he openly shared his faith in the Lord. For the past twenty five years he has had a Sunday morning jail ministry, and he faithfully continued this endeavor until his death. He thoroughly enjoyed the Wednesday morning Men's Garden Club meetings and looked forward to planting his summer gardens. Jake was also a member of Emmanuel Baptist Church and the VFW.

He is survived by his wife, Mary, of the home; four daughters, Cynthia Rowland of Los Angeles, Suzanne Parrish of Enid, Candace Zaslaw of Edmond and Sara Abbott of Denver, three stepchildren, Kenny Goodwin of Oklahoma City, Ginger Engler of Waukomis and Kelly Goodwin of Enid; one brother, Donny of Covington; four sisters, Ruth Beopple of Enid, Louise Franke of Ponca City, Earlene Foster of Mt. Pleasant, MI, and Betty Dillingham of Waukomis.

Jake loved and was dearly loved by his grandchildren. They are Edward Rucker, Oklahoma City, Brandon Hock, Ft. Collins,CO, Justin Parrish, Stephanie Parrish and Rachel Parrish of Oklahoma City, Dane Zaslaw of Edmond, Monica Herrera, Louisa Crandall and Sabrina Archuleta of Denver, CO, Tammy Grantz, Jeremy Becker, Katie Martin, Austin Miles of Enid, Nicholas Goodwin, Oklahoma City and Julie McMahon of Moore. He is also survived by seven great grandchildren. Jake was preceded in death by two brothers; Jim Donaldson and Tom Donaldson and one grandson, Rob Zaslaw. Memorials may be made through Henninger-Allen to Hospice Circle of Love or to Rob Zaslaw Memorial Fund.

The funeral will be held Tuesday, March 16 at 10:00 a.m. at Emmanuel Baptist Church. The Rev. Wade Burleson will officiate. Burial at Waukomis Cemetery will immediately follow the service. Arrangements are by Henninger-Allen Funeral Home. "Jake is a guy that everyone is going to miss." He leaves behind special memories not only to his family but to all who knew and loved him.

A Poem for Grandpa by Justin PARRISH

Grandpa Jake, Forever in My MindCovington Livestock, oh what a place. What an ornery 'ole guy was my Grandpa Jake. He took me there a lot, oh yes he did. He picked me up many mornings when I was a kid. Those times were so fun & times well spent. He taught me so much and gave me so many hints.As on the way it seemed the drive took hours.Couldn't wait for him to say "look for the water tower".On the drive to Covington we'd play many games.We'd count the rabbits & count them together. Oh how the drive seemed to take forever. We'd take turns, whistling & playing our game.Did you hear that lil' birdie?Oh he & I are so much the same. Heading out on 412 to hit 74, he'd always say "Rail-road crossings, look out for the cars, can you spell 'that' without any R's?"I remember as he would say "T-H-A-T",I would reply with a NO, while thinking it just could not be done. And amazing enough, this finally made sense to me when I was about 21.Grandpa started to take me along when I was about 4.And oh how I loved to walk thru the Sale Barn doors.As soon as we'd arrive, I'd run to pick out a whip.And with the pliers he gave me was ready to cut the bales of hay with a snip.As it was Jake's grandson's jobs, to feed & water all the cows in the yard.It was so much fun and not very hard.We always like to work at the Sale Barn for certainIt was another job he had given for us to move cows from pen to pen.And at the end of the day at the 'ole Sale Barn.Grandpa would pay us the money we'd earned.We'd walk down the Avery's General Store.And on a sack-full of candy our money was burned.Now the Sale Barn was great, and in fact it was awesome.But Grandpa taught me a lot more and helped me to blossom.He taught me to mow, and a lot of mowing we did.And I think it was he who taught me to lend.As while we would work on his rentals, we'd often stop to give neighbors & friends & strangers a hand.My Grandpa Jake was so very "grand" & so very special in deed.And from all he has given me he's planted a seed.A seed that will prosper & a seed that will continue to grow.Grandpa loved us so much, and we all love you too.Jake….., you were quite a guy and miss you we will,Grandpa you were so awfully funny, hey, admit it, you were a "pill".Now Grandpa has gone to Heaven's Bus Stop.He's already left and he's now sitting atop.I think he's probably already relaxing and really enjoying his time up there.Because it is hard to picture Heaven keeping busy an Auctioneer.So Grandpa Jake, as you now watch down on me.I want to make you proud of what you see.Thank you so much for everything to me, which you gave.I love you so much and I will see you someday.