Donald Duane Best was born April 30, 1932, in Stillwater, Oklahoma, to Lloyd Milton and Elsie Viola (Sinclair) Best. He died Sunday, November 8, 2015, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, at the age of 83 years. Don was reared and educated in Stillwater and graduated with the Stillwater High School Class of 1950. He continued his education attending Oklahoma A & M University. Before he was able to complete college, Don joined the armed forces having served his country honorably with the United States Army Air Corp. He was married November 2, 1978, in Bentonville, Arkansas, to Donna Hudson. They had made their home in Owasso having moved here in 1983. Don spent much of his working life as a design engineer with McElroy Manufacturing in Tulsa. He was a longtime faithful member of Freedom Church in Owasso. He had also served as a board member with Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology in Okmulgee, Oklahoma. He enjoyed a variety of pastimes including traveling all over the country in his RV. He also had his private pilot’s license and loved to fly. In addition, Donald loved his faithful companions “Bella” and Percy.”
Loving family members include:
His wife; Donna, of the home
Daughter; Dana Brown, of Owasso, OK
Son; David Best, of Oologah, OK
Their mother; Dolores Best, of Tulsa, OK
Two step-daughters;
Kerri Smith, of Broken Arrow, OK
Stacy Burt, of Tulsa, OK
Eight grandchildren;
Jordan Sylvan and Heather Sylvan
Zachary Brown and Rachel Brown
Savanah Smith
Alex Burt
Nathan Callahan
Grayson Wylie
Sons-in-law; Kirk Sylvan, Christian Burt and Dave Smith
He was preceded in death by his parents, sister, Loretta Howard, brother, Milton Best, and son-in-law, Kevin Brown.
Funeral service will be held 10:30 a.m., Friday, November 13, 2015, at Freedom Church in Owasso with Pastor Andrew Rankin officiating. The family requests memorial contributions be made to Freedom Church The Seed Project, 9602 North 177th East Avenue, Owasso, OK 74055; The Humane Society of Tulsa, 6232 East 60th Street, Tulsa, OK 74135; or Animal Aid of Tulsa, 7717 East 21st Street, Tulsa, OK 74129. Arrangements and services were entrusted to Mowery Funeral Service. www.moweryfs.com
