Obituary of Jackie Donnell

Jackie Wayne Donnell passed away at home on January 7, 2012, of Coweta. Jackie was a gentle man, and a gentleman of exemplary kindness and patience. He always found the humor in life, was a great joker and story-teller, was genuinely curious about the world and never met a stranger. He liked everyone he met and it seemed that everyone who met him liked him. Nothing was more important than his family, and he treasured his friendships as well, remaining close to even his friends from childhood throughout his life. Jackie was a true citizen who believed in being a part of his community and helping those in need. For those of us who had the opportunity to know him and love him, he was truly a great and selfless man. He was one of a kind, and there will never be another like him. Jackie Wayne Donnell, was born in Webbers Falls, Oklahoma, April 20, 1946 to Porter Levi Donnell and Edna Mae (McAlister) Donnell. The family moved to California when he was 2 years old and back to Oklahoma when he was 8. He attended elementary school in Stratford, California, and Webbers Falls, Oklahoma, from which he graduated high school in 1964. Jackie attended Connors State College and Oklahoma State University, and lacked only one semester to graduate when he was drafted. Jackie entered the U.S. Army in 1967 and served in the HHC 1st Battalion, 66th Armor, 2nd Armored Division, in Vietnam as a Medical Corpsman (Specialist 5th Class) in combat from 1967 to 1968, earning the National Defense Service Medal, Bronze Star Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with 5 Bronze Service Stars, Soldiers Medal, and Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, and qualified as a Sharpshooter (Rifle) and Marksman (Pistol). Extremely modest, Jackie (“Doc” to his fellow soldiers) never spoke of medals or honors. However, on May 5th 1968, while serving as a Medical Aidman with Company C, 2nd Battalion, 34th Armor, on a combat mission near Hue, Vietnam where a tank had fallen from a collapsed bridge into a stream. Three seriously injured crewmembers were extracted, but a fourth was pinned by the vehicle and just barely able to keep his head above water. Disregarding his own safety, Private Donnell cleared the man’s air passage and assisted him in breathing when necessary until the tank could be lifted out of the stream an hour and a half later. For his heroic actions he was awarded the Soldier’s Medal. After returning from Vietnam, he wed Linda Edmonds, an elementary school teacher, in 1971. They lived in Morris and then in Coweta, where they raised two sons, Wayne and Dustin, and Jackie managed the Eastern Oklahoma Export Elevator until his retirement. He also worked for the Livestock Nutrition Center in feed sales until he retired in 2011. Jackie was on the Board of the Cattleman’s Association, a member of the American Legion, a member of the Dreadnaught 2/34 Armor Veterans, and a member of the Lion’s Club for several years. Jackie loved working in his garden and working on his “ranch,” which has included over time Oscar the mule, several Barbados sheep, goats, cattle, chickens, and dogs (Butterscotch and Dixie). He was also an avid card player, playing regularly with friends, and recently realized one of his dreams to become an auctioneer. Jackie was preceded in death by his parents Porter Levi Donnell and Edna Mae (McAlister) Donnell. He is survived by his loving wife and sons, Linda (Edmonds) Donnell, Jackie Wayne Donnell, Jr. and Dustin Wade Donnell; four beloved grandchildren, Abigail Marie Donnell, Molly Sue Donnell, Hannah Mae Donnell, and Cooper Wade Donnell; his dear sisters Billie Ruth (Donnell) Clark and Brenda Rose (Donnell) Archie; and many loving nephews and nieces. Jackie accumulated friends wherever he went, and he was blessed with many truly great friends. The family will be present at a visitation on Wednesday evening, January 11, 2012 from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Funeral services for Mr. Donnell will be at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, January 12, 2012 at the First Baptist Church in Coweta, OK with Rev. Brody Morris and Rev. David Jones officiating. A graveside service with full military honors will follow at 2:00 p.m. at the Ft. Gibson National Cemetery in Ft. Gibson, OK. Pallbearers are Ronald Limon, Kenneth Replogle, Walter Replogle, Tim Kelley, Mike Gregory and Mike Cooper. Honorary Pallbearers are Chester Woodward, Gordon Burrows, Rodney Hill, Herby Poteete, Ronnie Jarrard and Jim Hargrove. Family and friends may share memories on-line @ www.wrightbrownfunerals.com. The family of Jackie Donnell entrusted his care and services to Wright-Brown Family Funeral Home, 210 S. Broadway, Coweta, OK 74429, 918-486-5515.