First of all, my prayers go out to June, Donnie and the rest of the family for comfort through this difficult time.  I am deeply saddened and heartbroken at the loss of Don.  I remember back in 1974 when Aunt Aladene, Aunt Arnetta, Don, Robert, and David moved from California to Huber Heights, Ohio.  I grew up with Robert as a kid and was excited to be able to see him on a regular basis again.  I started living with them shortly after they moved to Ohio at the age of 13.  I was excited to have a life with my three cousins who to me are not cousins, but truly brothers.  I remember going to the local Putt Putt golf courses with Don, Robert and David.  Don was very good at playing Putt Putt and was a member of the amateur putters association.  It was hard to beat him, but I enjoyed the challenge and the occasional win. I also had lots of good times passing the baseball, playing one on one with him in basketball and just enjoying spending time with him.

One of his jobs he had was a photographer, he brought home two adjustable metal stools and I was able to take one of them to use as a drum stool.  After almost 50 years, I still have that same stool and continue to use it.  

I started going to church with Aladene, Don, and David.  It was my first time going to a church since I was a child.  Their influence on me from a spiritual perspective was a major shift in my life.  I remember countless conversations with Don over the years just talking about the Bible and asking questions.  Don was never at a loss at any of my questions.  He was always able to answer them and give scriptures to back up his answers.  A lot of know about the Bible, and that is very little, I learned from Don.  He was always encouraging me to read the Bible.  I moved out of the house around 18-19 years old and didn't get to see Don very much.

Fast forward to around early 2000s.  I was married with 2 kids and going to a Pentecostal church in Vandalia, Ohio.  I wasn't sure if this was where God wanted me or not.  I remember sitting in the sanctuary by myself and praying to God and saying if this is where you want me, I will be content, but if not, please make another way.  Well, soon after that I heard that Don was starting a church in the Dayton area.  I asked if I could attend the Bible studies and he said absolutely.  I started going to the bible studies and eventual services, enjoying the lessons Don taught.  He invited me to a ministers meeting which I was happy to go and meet some of the other ministers he fellowshipped with.  Over the next few years, he encouraged me to go in to the ministry and I started handling the services when he was out of town as well as travelling around the country with him going to several minister's meetings.  It was very educational and I enjoyed travelling with him, taking turns driving, and talking countless hours about the Bible.  I cherished his teachings and was able to progress in my miniistry.  

One of my favorite memories with Don was traveling to Israel and spending 11 days with Don, Buddy, and Bruce.  It was an awesome time, Don made sure we got to see as much of Israel as we could in such a short time.  Don rented a car for our trip and we were able to drive around and see and experience the land of Israel.  The most powerful moment of the trip was when Don took us to the shores of Galilee.  I remember thinking that we could be walking on the same shore Jesus walked, it was an awesome experience.  I thank Don for giving me a chance to see the land of Israel.

My spiritual walk with God has been an amazing journey and I thank Don for being not only a natural brother, but a Brother In Christ.  The countless talks in the car about the Bible and the many sermons I heard from Don was a tremendous blessing.  I thank Don for the spiritual guidance, the knowledge and wisdom he imparted, and the encouragement he gave me to enter the ministry.  

I was able to have a video conference with Don about 2-3 weeks before he passed.  I was very blessed to have one last conversation with him, it was tremendously uplifting for me to talk to him.  He is sorely missed.  Don is no longer with us, but I know I will one day see him again in the new heaven and new earth.  So as a particular song states, "I'll see you in a little while".

Doug Straley