Donald “Don” Lee Loftin, 76, of Kountze went on to Glory to be with his Savior on March 8, 2009. Born an only child to Velma (Lindsey) and Mercer Lee Loftin on December 12, 1932 in Saratoga, Texas, Don spent most of his life in Kountze. Don proudly served his country in the United States Army during the Korean conflict starting in November 1953. Don was a retired ironworker and member of Ironworkers Local Union 125. He was a faithful servant of the Lord and served on the deacon board of Honey Island Assembly of God Church for many years. He has been a member of Pine Masonic Lodge #642 AF&AM most of his adult life. Don worked from the time he was a small boy. He took pride in an honest days work and readily provided for his family. First and foremost, he was the father of two baby girls and a loving husband to his one and only wife. His pride and joys came later in life with his grandchildren. He never left home without a billfold full of pictures of his babies to show off.  Don’s finest trait was his ability to be bluntly honest, complete with the slightest twitch of his mustache; sometimes mistaken as a smile. He loved working in his pasture full of livestock, reading a good western, and watching his “stories” on television.

Don is preceded in death by his parents, Velma and Mercer Loftin.

He is survived by his loving wife, Shirley Loftin of Kountze; daughters Larkin Loftin Jacks and her husband Larry of Kountze and Donyce Loftin Chapman and her husband Willie of Spurger; grandchildren, Sarah Larkin Jacks of Kountze, Lindsey Chapman Broucher of Spurger, Brooke Chapman Broucher of Kountze, and William Kyle Chapman of Spurger; great grandchildren, Haleigh Broucher and Rali Chapman both of Spurger; and many other family members.

Funeral service will be 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, March 11, 2009 at Honey Island Assembly of God Church with Reverend David Elam and Reverend Jimmy Cryer officiating. Burial will follow at Holland Cemetery in Kountze. A gathering of family and friends will be Tuesday, March 10, 2009 from 5:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. at the church.

Memorial contributions may be made in Don’s memory to American Heart Association, P.O. Box 7015, Beaumont, Texas 77726.

The family would like to give special thanks to Odyssey Hospice. Each and every staff member the family came in contact with was phenomenal in making Don’s last days on earth more comfortable and at ease.