Donny Cleron Daw, age 72, passed away peacefully, with his loving wife Tamra by his side, in Carthage, Texas on the morning of September 25, 2021. Donny was recently diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and after three months he lost his battle with the disease. Donny accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior as a young teenager and his family has peace in the assurance of his salvation.

Donny was the son of Foster Cleron Daw and Mauverine (Mickey) Strickland, both of Shelbyville. Donny was born on September 16, 1949, in Center, Texas and was raised in Shelbyville where he also raised his three children. He was a graduate of Shelbyville High School and an accomplished Dragon athlete.  He was a life-long Shelbyville Dragon fan and never missed a game when his sons were playing or his daughter was cheering. He coached youth baseball and enjoyed making a difference in the lives of the young children he coached.

Donny, lovingly known as DD by his grandchildren, “adopted” grandchildren, neighbors, and friends, was happiest spending time outdoors. He took his grandsons fishing, bought them their first pocketknives, and regularly hosted an annual Halloween “Boo Bash” party just for their entertainment. Per his wife Tamra, he took great pride in being a mentor to his stepson, Trey, and grandchildren, encouraging in them a strong work ethic and the need to pursue the highest academic endeavor and to reach for their dreams.

Donny was a successful semi-retired businessman whose outgoing, never-met-a-stranger personality allowed him to build many business and personal relationships. Donny’s “word was his bond” and this philosophy served him greatly in all his endeavors.  Donny greatly enjoyed entertaining clients, friends, and family. One of his greatest joys was spending time at his beloved camp, The Outback, on Toledo Bend Lake. There you could find him fishing, cooking, and entertaining the guys on and off the water. Donny was a die-hard Dallas Cowboys fan and a proud son of Texas.

When he married his second wife, Tamra, a new dimension was added to his life as he gained new family members who embraced him and made him feel a part of their Louisiana culture and Syrian-Lebanese family. He cheered on those LSU Tigers and occasionally the Saints! He took pride in maintaining the beauty of his home, the Daw Ranch, in Bethany, Louisiana. You could often find him tinkering in his shop, working on his boats, and listening to his favorite music.

Donny was preceded in death by his father, Foster Cleron Daw; mother, Mauverine (Mickey) Strickland; and brother, Billy Joe Hutto.

He is survived by his wife, Tamra LaHood Daw; children, Jim Daw (Judy) of Patroon, Joe Daw (J.J.) of Montgomery and Jennifer Pultorak (Jim) of Rockwall; step-children, Trey Allen (Becky) of Bossier City, Louisiana and Tara Schildroth (Layne) of Springhill, Louisiana; grandchildren, Sydney Daw, Luke and Monte Scamperino, Zachary and Madison Schildroth and Sean Allen; sister, Nancy Perry (Jim) of Center; numerous nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews, and a host of friends.

Pallbearers honored to serve will be dear friends; Shane Corbell, Jamie Lynn, Richard Grissom, Wade Hooper, Brad Hughes, and James Elliott.  Honorary Pallbearers include Jimmy Howard, Jerry Reed, step-son Trey Allen, brother-in-law Jim Perry and great nephew Nicholas Sims.

The family would like to extend a special thanks to Hospice Plus nurses and Lydia, Cindy, Dawn and Lashunon, the nurses who so lovingly cared for him over the last several weeks. 

Funeral services will be held at 11:00am on Tuesday, September 28, 2021, at Watson and Sons Funeral Home in Center with Bro. Marvin Cooper officiating. Interment will follow at Shelbyville Cemetery. Visitation will be held before the service from 9:30-10:30am at Watson’s Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place Memphis, TN, 38105 or online at www.st.judes.org  in memory of Donny Cleron Daw.

Online condolences & tributes can be sent at www.watsonandsonsfuneralhome.com