Don Kirkland

Don Kirkland, age 83, passed away on Saturday, August 29, 2020, in Brownwood, Texas,

Don was born in Comanche, Texas, on July 29, 1937, to John Osborn Kirkland and Maurine (Guill).

On May 26, 1956, he was united in marriage to Shirley Pettijohn in Comanche, Texas. She preceded him in death on July 23, 2014.

Don was a telephone engineer for GTE, Verizon, and Comanche County Co-Op, covering the states of Texas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico. He was a member of the Hope Masonic Lodge #481 and he served 9 years on the Bangs ISD school board in Bangs, Texas. He was a farmer and a rancher. He loved fishing trips to the coast and followed the PBR bull riding circuit for many years and was known as the Texas Rowdy Bunch.

Don is survived by his son, Terry Kirkland and wife, Linda of Grosvenor, Tx; daughter, Valarie Kirkland of Abilene, Tx; son-in-law, Royce Schoen of Lake Brownwood, Tx; 11 grandchildren, Ronnie Merrifield, Stephanie Merrifield, Kimberly Merrifield Garza, Donna Schoen, Misti Schoen, Randy Schoen, Scotty Roberson, Kimberly Roberson, Lana Kirkland Pummel, Ashley Radle, and Amber Hess; 19 great-grandchildren; two brothers, Jimmy Kirkland of Baird, Tx and Larry Rodgers of Breckingridge, Tx; one sister, Pat McMullen of Breckingridge, Tx; and numerous nieces and nephews. Don is preceded in death by his parents, John Osborn and Maurine (Guill) Kirkland; one daughter, Glenna Schoen; one daughter-in-law, Debra Kirkland; and one brother, George Rodgers.