Gerald R. Donald

Funeral services for Gerald R. Donald, 81, of Rayville, LA will be held at 10:00 AM, Friday, January 31, 2014 at First Baptist Church of Rayville with Dr. Eddie Wren and Mr. Robert Barham. Interment will follow in the Mulhearn Memorial Park Mausoleum, Monroe, LA under the direction of Brown-Holley Funeral Home, Rayville.

Mr. Gerald was born November 7, 1932 in Natchez, MS and passed away Wednesday, January 29, 2014 in Rayville, LA from a sudden illness.

He loved his wife, children and grandchildren and great granddaughter, Jo, Danny, Phil, Jason, Jennifer, Joseph and Anitson. He also loved and cherished his daughter- in-law Dianne and daughter-in-law Wendy.

Mr. Gerald was a deacon of Oak Ridge Baptist Church and was a U.S. Army veteran serving during the Korean War. He worked at Michigan Wisconsin Pipeline Company during the day and also started Donald Air Conditioning and Heating in 1970 as a side job. In 1976 he purchased a new car dealership and operated it for about 7 years. Gerald was a person who could "fix anything". He was very mechanically inclined. He grew up north of Holly Ridge, LA where his father, Alton Donald, a farmer and bus driver who also owned and operated an automobile repair garage.

He believed in hard work and that a person could do anything in life that he wanted to do if he was willing to work for it. He was a true "car buff". In the air-conditioning and heating business he taught his sons and grandson. This job gave them the opportunity to work together as a family in a job that they all enjoyed together.

Mr. Gerald is preceded in death by his parents, Alton and Clara Donald.

Survivors include his wife of 63 years, Jo Donald of Rayville; sons, Danny Donald and wife, Dianne of Rayville and Phil Donald of Rayville; grandchildren, Jason Donald and wife, Wendy of Rayville, Jennifer Donald Morris of Rayville, and Joseph Donald of Rayville, LA; great granddaughter, Aniston Morris of Rayville; brother, Jimmie Donald and wife, Carolyn of Dallas, TX; sisters-in-law, Betty Stimac of West Monroe, Gladyes Walker of Monroe, and Frances Collier of Shreveport; brothers-in-law, John W. Thrower and wife, Dot of Shreveport and Bob Thrower and wife, Joyce of Calhoun; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and a special uncle, Maurice Donald, Sr. of Searcy, AR.

Pallbearers are Donald Lee, Maurice Donald, Jr., Marley Oldham, Jerry Nobles, Tom Allen, Charles Tullos, Randy Donald, and James "Cricket" Collier. Honorary pallbearers will be Gene Allen, Earl Hogan, Dr. Louie Crook, Bubba Stevenson, Sonny Baker, Robert Barham, Gene Sorey, Ray Calloway, and Marvin Jones.

He was inspiration to the family and was loved deeply by all of the family. He will be missed so much. Gerald was a man of God and loved Jesus. He always encouraged his family to seek Him as the "True Rock". He is resting with Jesus in his "Eternal Home" right now. His is at peace and will wait for the rest of his precious family to return and be with him one day.

Condolences may be left at brownholleyfuneralhomes.com.

Brown Holley Funeral Homes

Rayville, LA