Donald Clifton Heath

Donald C. Heath, age 88 of Temple, died Wednesday, June 19, 2019 at a local care center. Funeral service was held at 11:00 am Saturday, June 22, 2019 at Scanio-Harper Funeral Home with Rev. Billy Koinm officiating. Burial followed at Bellwood Memorial Park.

Mr. Heath was born on April 25, 1931 in San Perlita, Texas to the late David William Heath and Johnnie Texana Kitchens Heath. He attended Raymondville High School and served his country during the Korean War in the US Army and was honorably discharged after two years of service. Don worked at Reynolds Metal Co. in Corpus Christi, Texas and retired after 20 years of service. He then worked as a manager at Gulf Coast Paper Co. in Brownsville and Temple retiring in 1996 after working there for 24 years. He was a member of Heights Baptist Church.

Don was a cowboy on the King Ranch where he learned the art of horse shoeing. His love for horses started there. Don won Grand Champion Appaloosa Halter Horse with his favorite horse Joker Jack’s Don in 1968 at the San Antonio Livestock Show, and Tie Down Calf Roping and Matched Stake Races at the San Antonio Rodeo in 1969. He was a member of the Bell County Sheriff’s Posse for many years. Don was preceded in death by his siblings, Dortha Estell Casey, Joy Arcola Heasley, Ronald Heath, Dalton David Heath and Charles Alton Heath; his first wife, Alta Lorene Caldwell Heath in 1996 and a son, Clifton William Heath in 2014.

Don greatly loved his family and leaves behind these to cherish his memory: his wife, Janey Lewis Heath of Temple; daughter, Patricia Lorene Beebe and husband Alex of Boerne, Texas; step-daughter, Jana Copeland and husband Mitchell of Temple; and eleven grandchildren Rebekah Armstrong and Anna Armstrong of Dallas; Audrey Chance and husband Eric of San Antonio; Rachel Armstrong of Portland, Oregon; Julia Beebe of Chicago, Illinois; Jacquelyn Heath and fiance Mikey Fosty and Loren Owen and husband Dave of San Antonio; Kevin Wagner of Waco; Aubrey Copeland, Brock Copeland and Colt Copeland of Temple; nine great- grandchildren Ashley, Cora, Eston, Timothy, Lura, Allan, Ryleigh, Samuel, and Wade.

Memorials may be made in Mr. Heath’s name to Heights Baptist Church, 1220 S. 49th Street, Temple, Texas 76504 or to Kindred Hospice, 2626 S. 37th Street, Temple, Texas 76504.