Don Allen Symes

Don was born on August 12th, 1935, in Mutual, Oklahoma to parents Raymond Symes and Lorene Craighead. Don passed away peacefully on Sunday morning May 18th, 2025, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma after saying goodbye to his family and friends.
Don Symes married the love of his life, Mary Lou, in Sidney, Montana on August 15th, 1957. They were married for 68 years. Don and Mary Lou were blessed with a beautiful baby girl, Cristi, on February 22, 1959, in Garden City, Kansas. Don and Mary Lou (Fizzer) traveled and worked together for their entire marriage. They built pools, ran a cattle ranch, fixed and flipped houses, toured the country in an RV, among many other adventures. Don and Fizzer lived a long, beautiful life together and loved each other deeply.
Don was a good, honest, hard-working man. He was handy, and his hands built so much in 89 years. Don was as tough and strong as any man you have ever met. When he was younger, he boxed for an Oklahoma Golden Gloves, running 10 miles a day as part of his training regimen. Fizzer would often tell a story of Don wrestling a gigantic Spoonbill fish, with his bare hands, at base of Grand Lake Dam and winning. Don feared nothing and he did things his way. In the 90s, Don set off in a covered horse-drawn wagon and took it right down the highway for hundreds of miles, camping out in fields with his dog, just roughing it under the stars. That was Grandpa Don. Grandpa Don was friendly and kind. He had an incredible ability to make friends anywhere he went or stayed. After Fizzer passed, everywhere Don went or stayed for medical care, he instantly became a favorite patient amongst staff because of his naturally kind and polite demeanor. Everyone loved Don and he loved all of us.
Don is survived by daughter Cristi Symes Theisen and her husband David Theisen. His three grandchildren Jeremy Theisen (and his wife Lacy and great-granddaughter Stella), Corbin Theisen (and his wife Kendal), and Devin Theisen. As well as his sister Beth Bergkamp. Don is preceded in death by wife Mary Lou Symes, father Raymond Symes, mother Lorene Craighead, and brother R.C. Symes.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end.
Amen.