Don passed away June 5 in Lea wood, Kansas at age 83.

He was born August 8, 1933 in Bartlesville, Oklahoma in the old Memorial Hospital to William Hunt and Wilma Gorton Creel He grew up in Bartlesville attending McKinley Elementary, Garfield Junior High, and graduation College High with the class of 1951.

Don continued on to the University of Oklahoma, majoring in civil engineering and becoming a proud member of Sigma Chi, serving as president of Beta Kappa chapter for two terms.

He met his wife Barbara on a blind date following pledging in 1952, her first date on campus.

They were married June 11, 1955.

Following graduation in 1955, Don served two years in the navy as lieutenant JG stationed aboard a heavy cruiser in Long Beach, California.

After his discharge in 1957, he was employed with Phillips Petroleum Company for 35 years.

They lived many places with Phillips including Texas, Colorado, New Mexico, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Michigan, California, and back to Bartlesville in 1985 as VP of applied automation and retiring there in 1992. Don was always active in the community wherever they found themselves; always a Rotarian, serving as president in Titusville, Pennsylvania, the United Way, Boyscouts, and his church. In Bartlesville, he was a Rotarian, involved with Bartlesville History Museum, Jane Phillips Home, Community Bank board, Biplane Expo, Sigma Chi alum, and a Tri-County Tech board member. He also served his church, First Christian, in several capacities through the years.

Don enjoyed fishing, hunting, and golf as he had time, but his biggest hobby was his family.

His children and grandchildren always came first.

Don is predeceased by his parents Wilma and Bill Creel, his mother in-law Sylvia Hill, father-in-law Dr. (Doc) O.L Hill, his brother Bill, his niece Carol Lynn, three infant children - twins Kenneth and Karen and daughter Sally, and his beloved son Jeff in 2015.

He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Barbara, of Stilwell, Kansas where they had recently moved to be close to family. He is also survived by his beloved daughter Betsy, her husband Grant and much loved "grands" Hallie and Sam, daughter-in-law Nicole of Deerfield, Illinois, his sister-in-law Carol Creel of Bartlesville and her family Kathy and Larry Lawrence of Oklahoma City and their families, Ann and Mike Denyer of Idaho and their families, Bill and Connie Creel of Houston and their families, Kelly and Louis Gave of Canada and their family.

He is also survived by Barbara's sister Carolyn Creel of Kirkwood, Missouri and her family, Sybbie and John Fox of Prairie Village, Kansas and their family, and Stacey and Stephanie Clear of St. Louis and their family, as well as many dear Gorton and Creel cousins throughout the country. He will be dearly missed by all who survive him, but his memory will live on in our hearts.

Memorial service to celebrate Don's life will be held at Bartlesville First Christian Church 6th and Osage on Saturday June 24 at 3:00 in the afternoon with pastor Kim Hames officiating. Reception to follow at Price Tower 510 S. Dewey. Private interment preceding service.

Local arrangements are under the direction of the Arnold Moore & Neekamp Funeral Home, Bartlesville.

Online condolences may be left at www.honoringmemories.com.