Most recently Donald Gene Hix was regarded as a cheerful, helpful greeter on Sundays at First Baptist Church in Weatherford, Ok. Over his life, he was known for many other things:  farmer, cowboy, drywaller, high-jumper, bowler, son, husband, father, grandfather, corny joke-teller, Sunday School teacher, deacon, and on occasion, a singer.  The commonality of these employments is that Don was a servant and created bonds that served a greater purpose.

Weatherford has always been home. Born in Elk City on June 25, 1938, Don was brought home to a farm homesteaded by his grandfather northeast of Indianapolis, Ok, west of Weatherford. He was the only child to Virgil and Connie (Gold) Hix.  Don accepted Christ at a young age and was baptized at Indianapolis Baptist Church.

Don attended Bellview School in a building on his family's land until junior high when he attended Weatherford Public Schools. He graduated high school in 1955 at age 17.  He initially attended Southwestern Oklahoma State University and transferred to his beloved Oklahoma State University in Stillwater.  There he was active with the Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity and graduated with a degree in animal husbandry.  Go Cowboys!

After college Don became the interim director of the Baptist Student Union at SWOSU and served as the University Sunday School Department director at FBC in Weatherford. In 1963 he and Janice Byers joined forces in service and life when Don recruited her to be a Sunday School teacher and wife.  Throughout their 55-year marriage, they spent nearly 30 years teaching university students and several years teaching an adult Sunday School class.  These years brought Don many opportunities to laugh, love, teach, and learn.  He treasured the time he spent with college kids.

Shortly after their marriage, Don was honorably discharged from the National Guard and began working construction full time, eventually for Sawatzky Construction, while consistently working on his family farm. His third "job" was always God's kingdom.

Don shared his life with his family and led by example. He and Janice have four children, two daughters-in-law, and seven grandchildren plus two on the way.  Each child and grandchild gained a valuable education from spending time with Don.  Whether it was his work ethic, generosity, love for family history, commitment to family, farming, supporting charities, bowling, love of animals, or participation in FFA, his intensity for living life will continue to leave its impact.

Don's special gift was loving people and creating connections using humor, for in this way he naturally demonstrated God's love. Sometimes his demonstrations were public, but they were often private, in the quiet of dawn or just between himself and someone in need.  Don truly never met a stranger, and in Heaven, there are plenty of friends for him to greet.

Don is preceded in death by his parents, Virgil and Connie Hix, and a granddaughter, Emily Hope Thomas. He is survived by his wife, Janice Hix; daughter Tracy Carroll of Ft. Worth, TX; son Mark Hix (Angela) of Weatherford; son Jon Hix (Allison) of Novi, MI; daughter Meri Hix of Edmond, OK; grandchildren Lauren Ellington (Travis) and Jacob Thomas of Ft. Worth, TX, Connor and Karsyn Hix of Weatherford, and Selah Grace Hix of Novi, MI.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Weatherford First Choice Pregnancy Center and the SWOSU Baptist Collegiate Ministries.