Donald "Don" Woolley

On Friday August 2nd, we said goodbye to the greatest man I ever knew: my dad, Don Woolley. Our hearts are completely shattered as he is and will always be the patriarch of our family. Kind, loyal, patient and hard working - all things that my dad stood for. He was "a prince among men" as one friend put it and we were so lucky to have him. He was our voice of reason in a house full of hot heads, the one to count on for the best advice. He showed us kids what a good marriage should be like, loving my mom unconditionally for over 44 years. A true horseman to his core, he had an eye for great rope horses and helped me with my barrel horses to the very end. I always admired his roping, even though he didn't really start roping until he went to Cal Poly. He had so much power in his swing, you could hear him galloping up behind you just by the sound of his rope. He was also a very gifted craftsman that taught my brother and many of his friends skills that they will use the rest of their lives. He and my mom built the house they live in now with very little help. He did all the framing, tile, paint, electrical, roofing and more without subcontractors - that's how talented he was. A role model to all of us, he never raised his voice or got mad, and he always did the right thing. For over 10 years, my dad fought a rare genetic disease called Alpha-1 Anti-Trypsin Deficiency, that slowly killed his lungs. Every Thursday morning since he was 65, he went to the hospital to receive a blood transfusion of the enzyme his body didn't make to try and slow the process. For many years, he continued roping and winning buckles and saddles all while being out of breath by the time he got to the catch pen. It never looked fun to me, but he loved roping so much that it didn't matter. After he got COVID in 2021, he went on oxygen full time and despite our dismay, it didn't slow him down much. He simply started carrying a backpack with his oxygen machine and continued working, building a custom home on his final job. Up until three weeks ago, he was still walking over a mile a day. That might not sound like much but when you only have half of one lung left, that's unbelievable. Everything he did was hard for him including taking a shower, but he stood tall and never complained or showed his frustration. In the end, as tough as he was, his body failed him and it still just doesn't seem fair. We miss my dad profusely but know that he is no longer struggling. It seems selfish to still want more time with him when he had been robbed of doing everything he loved - especially roping. I miss most his infectious laugh and our late night heart to hearts after everyone was asleep. Jonathan and my brother have been carrying on his legacy this week working on home projects but I'm sure their level of detail is not to his standards. He was our rock and we are trying really hard to be brave without him. Until we meet again Dad, breathe easy - we love you. Information to follow on a memorial later in the year. In lieu of flowers, my mom asks that a donation be made in my dad's name to Casa De Love Rescue - they take in a lot of Dobermans and Dad always loved his dobies.
Arrangements are pending at Allen and Dahl Funeral Chapel in Anderson 530. 365. 5466