Donald P. Tarpey

Donald P. Tarpey, 92, of Texas City, TX, passed away Sunday, June 15, after a brief illness.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, June 24, 2025, at St. Mary of the Miraculous Medal Catholic Church. Burial will follow at Galveston Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m., Monday, June 23, 2025, at Emken-Linton Funeral Home in Texas City.

Don Tarpey was born on September 26, 1932, in Texas City, TX. He established Don Tarpey Construction Co. in 1957. Starting with residential construction, Don eventually transferred to commercial and industrial construction. 

He joined EWA in 1983 and has been on the Board of Directors in continuous service since 1996. He became chairman of the Board Ethics Committee in 1999, Chairman of the Board in 2000 and was President for 15 years from 2003 to 2018. Along with Mrs. Bobbie Tarpey, he was inducted into the EWA Hall of Fame in 2007. He and Mrs. Tarpey established the Don Tarpey Agriculture Scholarship in 2023 which is given annually by the EWA Scholarship committee.

Don Tarpey was a husband, father, uncle, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He was a general contractor, rancher, avid hunter, fisherman, pilot and an excellent marksman. Don had been a leader within the Exotic Wildlife Association and the exotic industry for decades. Above all, he was a True Texan.

He is preceded in death by his parents, James Joseph Tarpey Sr. and Bertie A. Tarpey; brother, James J. Tarpey Jr. and daughter, Mary Alice Tarpey. 

Survivors include his wife, Bobbie Tarpey; his children, Patrick Tarpey and wife Tracy, Clay Tarpey, Bonny Tarpey Guerrero and husband Rick, Lan Cook and wife Christina and Bob Cook; grandchildren, Taylor Tarpey, Celia Wakeling, Brooke Guerrero, James Tarpey, Haden Guerrero, Hugh Jones, Bobbie Ann Burns, Ryan Cook and numerous great grandchildren.

Pall Bearers are Patrick Tarpey, Clay Tarpey, Bob Cook, James Tarpey, Haden Guerrero and Hugh Jones. Honorary Pallbearers are Lan Cook, Eddie Winston and Jerry Mathis.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: The Don Tarpey Agriculture Scholarship - Exotic Wildlife Association- 231 Thompson Drive, Kerrville, TX 78028.