Donald Don Robley Church

Donald Robley Church was born to Clifford and Jeane Church on March 6, 1943 in Hanford (Lakeside community) where he spent his entire life farming some of the same land passed down through the generations since the 1880’s. Don made his journey to heaven on October 30, 2012.

Don graduated from Hanford High in 1961. In 1971 Don married the love of his life Brenda Hickey. They were blessed with two children, Clinton and Donna.

Throughout his life Don had many roles, including son, brother, husband, father, uncle, grandfather and friend but he was born a farmer. Farming is what Don knew and farming is what he did best. He was a man of the soil and loved being on a tractor. Cotton, alfalfa, corn, wheat, custom planting, picking and module moving. Up before the sun and still farming when the sun went down. In 1972 Don and Brenda started their custom module hauling business DB Farms. He had module trucks operating in California and Texas.

Don was active in the lives of his children and volunteering in many community organization including being a volunteer for the Guernsey Fire Department, coaching Little League, 4H chapter, Hanford FFA, sprint car racing, Kings County Cotton Committee and served on the board for Central Valley Cooperative (CVC) gin from 1977-1993. Don enjoyed helping others.

Don had many hobbies and interest: model trains, four-wheeling, love for animals, stock cars, sprint car racing, traveling, drawing, watching sports and water skiing. Don rarely passed up an opportunity to head to Pine Flat Lake or the local reservoir to go water skiing. Often times Don would have the ski boat loaded up and ready to go before the kids could change into their swim gear. He gladly spent many hours in his beloved ski boat teaching friends and neighboring kids how to water ski when he wasn’t behind the wheel of a tractor.

Don wanted to have fund and enjoyed life. Don had a great sense of humor, outgoing personality, appreciation for life and people, always surrounding himself with friends. Don always sought the good in everyone and everything. He was loving, patient, kind, gentle, hardworking and honest. Because of Don’s love for people he often became a “surrogate” father/uncle for many of the neighboring kids. He loved his family, protected and guided them.

In 1997 he was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. Don faced many hard trials in his life but this one was the toughest. He fought long and hard throughout his illness. He kept his chin held high and a smile on his face.

Don is survived by his wife of 41 years, Brenda; children Clinton and wife Tammy, Donna Marshall and husband Curtis and his surrogate son Michael Ventura and wife Jamie; along with three grandchildren Caleb Church, Aryanah Marshall and Emma Rae Ventura; sisters Bonnie Salyer and her husband Robert, Cindy Church; sister-in-laws, Linda (Emmett) Johnson, Denise (Jerry) Haughton, and Sandra (Gordon) Young, father/mother-in-law, Bob and Loretta Hickey; along with nieces Kerri and Renee; nephews, Mark, Ben and Andrew; cousins and many friends. He was preceded in death by his parents Cliff and Jeane.

In lieu of flowers donation in Don’s memory may be sent to the place where he received the greatest care, Sansum Clinic P O Box 1200 Santa Barbara, Ca 93102

There will be a visitation on Tuesday, November 6, 2012 at 9 am followed by a Service at 10 am all to take place at People’s Funeral Chapel. A Celebration of Life will follow at Kings County Fairgrounds “Grape Room” at 11:30.