Donald James Hulsey

His children are blessed after him.” Proverbs 20:7

Donald James Hulsey was born June 26, 1942 in Hobart, Oklahoma to Vola Mae (Hodgson)

Hulsey and Herbert Robert Hulsey. He left this world to be with his LORD and savior on

February 8, 2022 in Houston, Texas. He is preceded in death by his loving wife of 53 years,

Mary Edith (Walker) Hulsey, his grandparents, his parents, His brother Henry Lee Wann, and

many beloved cousins and friends. He is survived by his daughters Lisa Ann Hulsey of Marlow,

Oklahoma and Debra Jo Hulsey of El Campo, Texas; his grandchildren James Robert Hulsey and

wife Brandi Nichol (Payne) Hulsey of El Campo, Texas and Shelby Ann Marie Sproles of

Marlow, Oklahoma. Services for Donald will be February 26th, 2022 at First Baptist Church,

Marlow, Oklahoma, with interment to follow at Retrop Cemetery, Oklahoma.

Don was a loving father, husband, and grandfather whose “dash” was full of life. Don grew up

mostly in Oklahoma, with some time in California. He was a country boy who enjoyed visiting

his grandparents and building caves and forts with his cousin Bobby. The adventures and trouble

these two had were legendary. Don graduated from Sentinel High School in 1960. He worked

as a boot black and for the butcher in town throughout high school. He played both baseball and

basketball all through his high school career.

He served in the United States Marines from 1961 through 1965, working with the Air

Command division mostly in California.

Following his time in the Marine Corps, Don returned to Oklahoma and moved to Oklahoma

City, where he worked at Aero Commander. It was in Oklahoma City where he met his wife

Mary on a blind date. After a short courtship, they were married in Mangum, Oklahoma on June

10, 1966.

Don and Mary moved to Moore, Oklahoma where they had their first child, Lisa. Don worked at

IBM, servicing office equipment. After he received a transfer, the young family moved to

Weatherford, Oklahoma where they welcomed their youngest child, Debra. In 1978, after living

in Yukon, Oklahoma for a year, Don and Mary opened their own office machine service and

sales business, Southwestern Office Machines in Weatherford. They met many lifelong friends in

Weatherford, but technology outpaced their business and in 1990 they sold out and moved for a

brief time to Austin, Texas.

In 1991, Don and family moved to Beeville, Texas, where Don had purchased a Snap On tools

route and truck. The tool business was not to be and Don went to work for Texas Department of

Criminal Justice as a correctional officer. While there, Don worked in Administrative

Segregation, Isolation, and on the outside squad. He retired from the State of Texas in 2005.

Missing the Oklahoma setting, the family moved to Marlow, Oklahoma in 2006. They found a

church home at First Baptist Church of Marlow. Having a beautiful bass voice, Don, joined the

choir and later he became a member of the Silvertones and the Men's Quartet. He enjoyed

traveling with them to sing at different functions, including the Fourth of July picnic in Marlow.

Once his wife fell ill, Don became her primary caregiver until her death in 2019.

Don was a devout Christ follower and believed with all his heart in the LORD Jesus Christ. He

was a loving son, helping his mother after his father’s death. Don loved his wife Mary and did

his best to give her everything she wanted. And he was the BEST father two girls could ever

wish for. Don was a father not only to his girls, but to his grandchildren, Jim and Shelby, as

well. Stepping into the role of surrogate father and helping to raise them both. Don was the

happiest when his family was around him. His family was the most important thing to him, and

he loved them all dearly. Though he will be dearly missed, he is now surrounded by his

previously departed family and friends, and most importantly by his Savior’s unending love.

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid

up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on

that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.” 2 Timothy 4:7-8