Donald Gene Ross

(October 31, 1935 – March 10, 2025)

Donald Gene Ross was born on October 31, 1935 in Clifton, Texas. He passed away on March 10, 2025 in Austin, Texas.

Don Ross was one-of-a-kind: a caretaker, leader, coach, scholar, athlete, builder, educator, a superb father, grandfather, and friend. He was called Don, Granddad, Daddy, Dad, Coach Ross, and Pancho. For nearly nine decades, Don brimmed with love, care, curiosity, and resourcefulness.

The greatest gifts in Don’s life were his family and his formal education. He met his wife, Karon Jane Higginbotham, at Hico High School in the early 1950’s. During their courtship, Karon worked at the movie theater concession stand and Don seldom missed a movie. Day after day, he’d pay the 9-cent entry price for the chance to spend some more time with her. Don and Karon were married at the First Baptist Church of Hico on August 6, 1955 at 8:00 p.m. with their friend Roline Chaney officiating. Married for almost 70 years!

Don was a self-proclaimed momma’s boy— he adored his mother Effie Mae Simpson Ross and kept her memory alive through stories and his writings long after she passed. He admired her care and compassion, the love she had for her family, and the belief she carried in their abilities. Whether he took care to emulate his mother or whether it just came naturally, he exhibited the same traits he admired so much in Effie with his family and friends. As the youngest of eight siblings, Don always had people looking out for him — later in life, he returned the favor and looked after and cared for various siblings and their spouses in their old age. He showed his love by showing up — organizing birthday parties in the nursing home and chatting over games of Uno and Skip Bo.

Don was a faithful and generous long-time member of the First United Methodist Church of Hico. Don loved his Church and walked with God in both word and deed. Don was active in leading the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) program at various schools. One of Don’s prized possessions was letter written to him by Dallas Cowboys Head Coach Tom Landry. The letter from Coach Landry praised Don for his work with the FCA, and concluded by saying “Don, I know that God is using you in a special way.”

Inspired by his brother Moody, Don enrolled in Southern Methodist University in the Fall of 1954 a school he had been saving money for since he was a kid. He ran out of money in a year, during which he played walk-on football for the Mustangs but more importantly, became completely captivated by his college coursework. After his brief stint at SMU, he worked in an oil field in West Texas to save up money for school and to get married.

Education was central to Don’s identity—he was a true lifelong learner, always in pursuit of knowledge. In 1960, Don earned his degree in education from Texas A&M University. Three years later, he received his Master of Education degree from Howard Payne University. Don was a loud and proud Aggie, and often joked that all his children were perfect — except for the few who attended UT.

His early coaching days took Don from San Antonio to Houston to Longview and in 1972, back to Hico, where he proudly led the Hico Tigers varsity football team as the Head Coach and Athletic Director from 1979 to 1982. In addition to teaching class, Don also taught loads of Hico kids how to drive.

In 1982, Don took a graduate course in Educational Administration, the beginning of a brand-new phase in his career. From the first class, Don was exceptional, said his instructor Brad Chilton — extremely intelligent with great people skills. Don loved his work as an administrator for Glen Rose ISD and began his career at Tarleton State University in 1990 where he ultimately served as Dean of Admission and Registrar. After retiring from Tarleton in 2004, Don was recognized as the 2005 Distinguished Staff Member by the Tarleton Alumni Association for his professional achievements and commitment to the University.

In his retirement, Don loved spending time with family and friends, supporting his loved ones and his beloved Hico Tigers. He was a forever fan of the Tigers — any sport, any grade level— and you could reliably find him in the stands at home and away games. He loved hopping in the car and getting on the road to show up for his family and friends — from football games in Auburn to spelling bees in Dallas to school talent shows in Austin. He was always up for anything, unafraid of new experiences like celebrating Ethiopian New Year with his granddaughter or learning hula dancing at a birthday party.

He cherished his travels with his family — Summer vacations in Gulf Shores, road trips to his grandkids’ college towns for football games or track meets, or long weekends at state parks around Texas. At age 82, he traveled overseas for the first time, visiting Barcelona and Paris with his daughters, and the memories stuck with him forever. He made friends everywhere he went— even in Paris, sticking out like a sore thumb in his Hico Tigers State Quarterfinalists ball cap and standing 6 foot 1!

Don took care in everything he did. As the song goes, he truly did care for all creatures great and small. Both he and his wife Karon were great animal lovers, dedicating decades of time and resources to trapping and transporting hundreds (not an exaggeration) of stray feral cats to Dr. Gripp to be spayed or neutered. Each morning, Don “made the rounds,” loading up a big bowl of food at his house and setting off in his golf cart to feed cats all around town. He’d greet each group in the sweet singsong voice he’d employ with animals, give them their meal, and assure them that he’d see them tomorrow, sometimes managing a pat on the head or a scratch under the chin when the cats would allow it.

Don could make a mean lemon meringue pie in the morning and complete a construction project in the afternoon. Every task that Don took on was done with care, integrity, and thoughtfulness.

He is preceded in death by his father, Watt Morse Ross, and his mother, Effie Mae Ross, his siblings Morse, Horace, Nadine, James, Robert, Moody, and Glenn. He is survived by his large, loving family who he was so full of pride for. His wife of almost 70 years, Karon Jane Higginbotham Ross; their five children and their spouses: Micki Ross and Robert Collins, Dori Ross and Jim Sease, Shari Ross Lidji and Alan Lidji, Tim and Stacey Ross, and David and Heidi Ross; his grandchildren, and their spouses: Tyson (Jenna), Karleigh (Sam), Sophie, Sadie, Lillian, Jules, Ross, Charlie, Harry, Mary Eloise, and Frances; step-grandson, Eric Lidji (Julie) and step-great-granddaughters Minna and Maryasha;his sisters-in-law Patsy Jo Salmon Ross and Kathy Higginbotham Lively; numerous nieces and nephews; and great-niece Hallie Ross Little (Mason). Don was delighted to be a great-grandfather to six: Lucy, Nora, Cameron, Theo, Mary Lyle, and Louie.

Don’s family would like to thank the following people for their love, compassion, friendship, and care for Don: Cynthia Hunt, Maria Hernandez, Joe and Lavern Tooley, Brad Chilton, Sissy Norman, Jo Eisenrich, Barbara Weatherly, Jamie Long, Brenden McKinney, Sean Needham, Damon Mayfield, Glenda French, Mike and Wendy Epley, the volunteers at Meals on Wheels, the staff at Gemstone Memory Care in Austin who cared for him with love and respect, and the staff at Bluebonnet Hospice in Austin.

The family will be hosting a Celebration of Life service for Don on Sunday, April 6, 2025 at 1:00 p.m. at the Hico Hall followed by a BBQ lunch. All of Don’s friends are invited and welcome to attend.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Hico

Animal Shelter or the Hico Ex-Students Association Scholarship Fund.