Donald Walker, age 71, died Friday, July 27, 2018, in Clayton, New Mexico.

Funeral services were held at 2:00 PM on Tuesday, July 31, 2018 at the First United Methodist Church in Clayton, New Mexico with Rev. Kenneth W. Tidmore, pastor and Rev. Albert Maggard and Rev. Lavon Thompson officiating. Burial followed in the Fairview Cemetery South of Amistad, New Mexico by Hass Funeral Home of Clayton.

Donald Ray Walker was born on September 25, 1946 in Clayton, New Mexico to Clarence Ray Walker and Dorothy Beatrice (Dees) Walker. He grew up in the Wheeles Community and attended school in Wheeles, Felt and Boise City before going to Okmulgee, Oklahoma to vocational school. Donald served in the U.S. Army. He was stationed in Germany during the Vietnam War. He had a secret clearance and he fired Hercules Missiles. Donald was introduced to Alva (Kersey) Walker by her best friend, Gladys Wilson at a high school basketball game. They dated for three years before marrying on November 29, 1968. Ten years later they were blessed with a daughter Stassi Rae (Walker) Pyne, Donald thought he wanted a boy but the first thing he said was that he wouldn't trade her for three boys! The family lived near Boise City where they farmed and ranched. Donald got saved in a revival where his mother-in-law, Rev. Laura Kersey was preaching. He later joined the Pentecostal Holiness Church where they attended until moving to New Mexico. Donald was a jack of all trades and he mastered most of them. When he was about 6 years old he learned to drive a tractor. They had long rows and his dad would drive the other tractor along beside him and help him turn around at the end of the row. He was a certified welder, ran a pipeline crew, a mechanic, ran a flour mill, an electrician, a crop inspector and even learned some plumbing and carpentry from his father-in-law, A. C. Kersey. Donald enjoyed going to the movies, watching westerns on TV, playing card games, hunting elk, coyote hunting, fishing, restoring old equipment, rodeos and traveling. He spent one whole rodeo season driving from Canada to Florida to California with Stassi and family. He had also spent a month touring India and had been on numerous family vacations. He was passionate about God, family (especially his grandkids), crop adjusting and being part of the Rosebud Fire Department. In 1994 Donald moved his family to Rosebud, New Mexico where they lived for the last 24 years. Donald was preceded in death by his parents and 3 brothers; Raymond Leon Walker, Melvin Dale Walker and Marvin Gale Walker and by 2 sisters; Sandra Kay Thompson and Shirley Mae Powers.

SURVIVORS:

WIFE: Alva Walker of Rosebud, New Mexico.

1 DAUGHTER: Stassi Rae Pyne and her husband Rob of Scotts, Michigan.

2 GRANDCHILDREN: Colten Ray Pyne and Taylor Jayne Pyne both of Scotts, Michigan.

Donald also had a cousin, Jerry Walker of Boise City, Oklahoma that was as close as a brother.

And numerous brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews.

And a host of great friends!

MEMORIALS : The family asks that memorials be made in Donald's memory to the Amistad Church or to the Rosebud Fire Department.