Donald Wylie

Donald Roy Wylie, a resident of Waxahachie, Texas passed away peacefully on Wednesday, March 30, 2022, at 88 years of age.  He was born at home in Reagor Springs in Ellis County on March 14, 1934, to James Edwin Oscar Wylie and Alice Marcene Wylie nee Hudson.  He attended Waxahachie High School and went on to attend Texas A&M University at College Station, Texas.   He met Peggy Jean Griswold while attending Waxahachie High and they married on June 12, 1952.  Don and Peggy were married just shy of 70 years at the time of his passing.  Don and Peggy had three children, Gayla Jean, Donnie Ray, and Tammy Ann.

Don enjoyed a successful career in banking starting with Citizens Bank in Waxahachie, Texas in 1952. He had positions of increasing responsibility throughout his career including President of Itasca National Bank in Itasca, Texas and President of Athens Federal Savings and Loan in Athens, Texas.  He retired from his banking career as the head of Mortgage Lending at First National Bank of Athens, Texas.

Don was a Christian and loved the Lord Jesus with all his heart.  His faith and his love of the Lord formed the cornerstone of his life and guided all his decisions both personally and professionally.  His faith was demonstrated in actions that led him to be involved as a lay music minister where he helped to start several mission churches.  He also volunteered for mission ministries at orphanages in Zapata, Mexico.

Don had an easy smile and was always ready with a kind word.  He loved his wife and his children, and that love was returned.  If you needed help, he would help you.  He was one of those rare individuals who tried to truly live out his faith in everyday life.  He loved gospel music and the old Baptist hymns and you could catch him, on occasion, humming or singing one of them.

Don was preceded in his passing by his mother and father, Oscar and Alice Wylie, and his daughter, Tammy Ann Wylie.  He is survived by his wife Peggy, his daughter Gayla Cockerham, and his son, Donnie Wylie as well as his grandchildren:  Russell Cockerham, Clifton Cockerham, Meghan Montes, Chantaline Gronski, Donnielle Lilly, Patrick Wylie, Jimmy Wylie, Derek Hardin, Caleb Hardin, and Avery Campbell.  Don is also survived by many great-grandchildren.  Papaw loved you all and he knows you loved him in return.

Sometimes it is difficult to define a life well lived.  In this instance, it is not difficult at all. Don was a man with a big heart who loved a cared for his family and consistently strove to exemplify this faith.  He had an almost unmatched core of honesty which alone is a rare trait. He was respected for his values and how these were exemplified in his daily life. You would be hard pressed to find a single person that having met him would not think of him fondly.  He was a good man in the truest since of the word.  We love you, Dad and we will all miss you and remember how much you loved us!