Donald Gene & Jewel Maxine (Ketchum) Ayres

Cemetery Photo
Woodberry Forest Cemetery Madill, Marshall County, Oklahoma  

Photos © okla gravewalker

Obit for Donald submitted by Jo Aguirre

Services for Donald Gene Ayres, age 77 of Madill, were held Wednesday July 25, 2007, in Watts Memorial Chapel. Vance Crowe and Richard Jones officiated. Interment was in Woodberry Forest Cemetery under direction of Watts Funeral Home.

He was born on Nov. 5, 1929, in Madill, Okla., to Earl E. Ayres and Sylvia G. Baker Ayres and died on July 22, 2007, in Kingston. He was raised in Madill and graduated from high school in 1947. He and Jewel Maxine Ketchum were married on Oct. 16, 1949, in DeQueen, Ark. He joined the U.S. Army, serving two years as a military policeman in Japan after World War II. Later, he attended Southeastern Oklahoma State University, where he received his bachelor's degree in education, Don taught history, coached football and assisted in basketball at Waurika Public School. In the early 1960's, he moved to Madill and became a rancher and real estate broker. Don was a member of Madill Church of Christ, and was past director of Marshall County Rural Water Board, and he served on the board for Pettijohn Springs Christian Camp. He enjoyed working and spending time with grandchildren.

His wife, Jewel,preceded him in death on July 23, 2006. He was also preceded in death by a daughter, Emily Sue Ayres; a granddaughter, Alana Taylor Wesley; a great-granddaughter, Brittney Wesley; his parents; two brothers, Ernie and James; and three sisters, Evelyn Arnold, Veda Kennon and Clemma Little.

Survivors include three children, Donald Gene Ayres Jr. and wife, Mary, Oakland, Gary Ayres and wife, Paula, Madill, and Mary Ann Taylor, and husband, Ron, Ada; grandchildren, Donald Gene Ayres III, San Diego, Christi Ayres Idelman, Madill, Gary Don and Kim Ayres, Ardmore, Justin Ayres, Madill, Stephanie Taylor, Ada, Ashley Ayres Allen and Tyler Allen, Madill, Brooke and Eric Davis, Lebanon, Waylon and Amanda Lott, Cumberland, and Sy Wesley, Oklahoma City; great-grandchildren, Christopher, Dyland, harlee, Whitney, Shyann, Kyndal, Brayden, Grace, Kaytleigh and Bridger; a brother, Bill and wife, Martha Ayres, Madill; a sister, Lucille Murray, Madill; and sisters-in-law, LaVada Ayres, Tulsa, and Lycyette Ayres, Madill.

Pallbearers will be O. Logan Beard III, O. Logan Beard IV, Sam Goodwin, Terry Eldridge, Mack Purnell, Ferrell Stafford, Dan Little and Lynn Windel.

Memorials can be made to Pettijohn Springs Christian Camp, P.O. Box 440, Madill, OK 73446; or the National Parkinson Foundation, 1501 NW 9th Ave, Miami, FL. 33136.

Thank You For Your Service!