Donald Lackey

Donald Ray Lackey, 90, of Abilene, Texas passed away peacefully in his home on Monday, November 11, 2024.

Funeral services will be held  2:00pm on Saturday, November 30, at the Hamil Family Funeral Home in Abilene at 6449 Buffalo Gap Road, with Dustin Wilhite of Aldersgate Abilene Methodist Church officiating. A separate graveside service will be held at a later date at Plains Cemetery in Plains, Texas.

Don was born in Canyon, Texas to (George) Ray Lackey and Hazel Margaret Smith Lackey on April 16, 1934. He went to school in Plains, Texas and graduated from Texas Tech University in 1958. Don married (Margaret) Carol Carpenter on April 2, 1955 in Plains. He worked as a cotton farmer in Yoakum and Cochran counties for 18 years and for the John Deere Company for 4 years. While living in Plains, Don was very active in the community, as he was both the School Board President and the Boy Scout troop Scoutmaster.

He moved to the Austin suburb of Oak Hill before founding Hill Country Swings where he built porch swings, gliders, and other outdoor furniture in Dripping Springs, Texas. He met Cheryl (Thomas) Cortines and they were married on October 29, 1988. Cheryl worked for the Texas Department of Health. They moved to Atlanta, Georgia where Cheryl worked for the CDC while Don worked in home repair and remodeling. When Cheryl retired, they returned to Texas living in Burnet and later Abilene.

Don was regularly involved with the local Methodist Church and often sang in the choir. He had several hobbies including woodworking, metal art, audio, shortwave radio, genealogy, and aviation. He created, patented and sold a board game called Pegs.

Don was preceded in death by his parents Ray and Hazel Lackey, his first wife Carol Lackey, his brother George Lackey and his wife Ann, and his grandson Evan Turner.

Don is survived by his wife Cheryl, his three children Steve Lackey (wife Cathy), Donna Simmons (husband Robert), and Lynn Turner (husband John). Also surviving are his grandchildren David, Jennifer, Michelle, Holly, Lindsay, Casey and Mia, and five great grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Texas Tech General Scholarship Fund, or to the Aldersgate Abilene Methodist Church. Don's family wishes to extend our sincere thanks to Hospice of the Big Country and Visiting Angels for their care of Don during his final days.