Donald Marion Logan

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Donald Marion Logan, 80, of Gonzales, went to meet his Lord and Savior Friday, Sept. 19, 2014. Don was born May 23, 1934 in Gonzales County to Clyde and Alleen Logan. Clyde graduated from Gonzales High School and attended church at Unity Baptist Church before it was disbanded. He then joined the First Baptist Church in Gonzales. He made his profession of faith at age seven and was baptized in the Maurin caleche tank near Unity Baptist Church. Don was member of the American Petroleum Institute, Independent Petroleum Association, Rocky Mountain Oil & Gas Association, Independent Drilling Contractors of America, Independent Cattlemen’s Association and the Elks Lodge.

Don worked for a time in Yoakum for pipe line crew where he met Dorothy Seitz whom he married after moving to Tulsa, Okla. He was employed by Sinclair Oil Company and lived in Tulsa from 1953 to 1969. Don moved his family to Denver after leaving Sinclair Oil Co. to partner with his friend Clyde Clinton in a new business venture, property tax representatives for oil companies. Their business grew as they traveled throughout the United States and at the height of the oil boom of the 1980s they sold their business.

Though reluctant at first, Don came back to Gonzales to help his parents manage the production of an oil well on the old family place. Upon seeing the opportunities existing in Gonzales at the time, Don secured leases on some land that produced 12 new producing oil wells joint venturing with other individuals and companies they had represented.

Don had worked all his early life, working cattle with his cousin Rufus Floyd for 75 cents a day, setting pins at the bowling alley, ushering at the Ice Capades, pumping gas at a service station or playing rent-a-Santa at Christmas time. Work was work, he was never too proud to seize an opportunity to make a living. 

But there are things he did love outside of work. He enjoyed landscaping, planting flowers and seemingly where he walked, the grass grew. He past the time gardening and became very good at canning tomatoes. He loved fishing, raising cattle, even joining his father in leasing land in Tulsa to raise cattle. They both enjoyed riding horses, working cattle and Don’s Arabian mare “Dolly” had a gate as smooth as a rocking chair. 

In 1969 he and his family bought a condo in Vail where his children learned to snow ski, but Don avoided the activity afraid he would injure himself and prevent him from providing for his family.

In 1982 Don moved to Gonzales to stay and on March 17, 1985 he married Pat Kelley Brown and together they formed a cattle business on a family ranch. Don was a quiet, gentle soul, respected and loved by many friends. He was so gentle he didn’t brand his cattle for fear of causing them undue discomfort. Don had as many as 300 head of Brangus heifers at one point, finally selling them off to local ranchers and settling into a cow calf style of ranching that served him well.

Donald Marion Logan was a wonderful loving husband, father and great friend. He is survived by his wife, Pat Kelley Logan of Gonzales; daughters, Vickie Weir, Sharon Logan, Debra Cuccia (Michael), Judy Ganoe (Craig) Nancy Ayres (Larry), Sandee Johnson, (Mark); son, Robert D, “Bob” Logan (Jackie) all of Colorado; step-son, Jeff Kelley Brown of Gonzales; former wife and mother of his children, Dorothy Rose Logan of Colorado; sister-in-law, Jean Logan; 14 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; three step-grandchildren and four step-great-grandchildren, as well as a host of nieces, nephews and extended family.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 24 in the Gonzales First Baptist Church with Rev. Steve Faulkner officiating. Interment will follow in Denton Creek Cemetery. Pallbearers are Mark Kelley, Brian Carruthe, Bob Logan, Austin Ayres, Michael Cuccia, and Mark Johnson. Honorary pallbearers are Logan Gonoe, Tyler Weir, Riley Logan, Blake Johnson and Brud Brown. Memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church or the Denton Creek Cemetery Association. The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday in the funeral home. Services are under the care and direction of Seydler-Hill Funeral Home.                 

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