Grayson County TXGenWeb

Don Sanders Flesher Sr.
2 October 1921 - 4 November 2009

Van ALstyne, Texas -- Don S. Flesher Sr., 88, passed away at the Meadowbrook Nursing Home on Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009. He was born on Oct. 2, 1921, in Mantua to James Montrose and Viola (Shell) Flesher and was the first of their 4 children.
Don grew up as a farmer's son and during his high school years, he worked at Fox-Fanning Funeral
Home in Van Alstyne where he found his career calling. He went to the Dallas School of Embalming and earned his funeral director/embalmer license in 1942. After graduation, he went to work for Hartwig Funeral Home in Ft. Worth where he worked until entering the U.S. Navy in September of that year.
His tenure in the U.S. Navy was as a Chief Pharmacist's Mate aboard the U.S.S. Boreas which was a refrigerator ship that carried food supplies to our forces in the South Pacific theater during World War II.
When he left the Navy, he returned to the profession he loved and went to work for Guardian Funeral Home in Ft. Worth. Later, he moved his employment to Crouch-Moore Funeral Home in McKinney. On Jan. 1, 1953, he bought the funeral home in Van Alstyne where he first started out and it became known as Fox-Flesher Funeral Home. In September of that very same year, the name was changed to Flesher Funeral Home. Don was awarded his doctor of mortuary science degree on July 12, 1965.
Don was a member of the First Methodist Church of Van Alstyne and a member of Mantua Masonic
Lodge as well as the Shrine Temple. His community involvement included many awards and acknowledgments for contributions and support plus membership in civic organizations such as Lions Club, area Chambers of Commerce, and was a Justice of the Peace.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, W.D. Flesher; and sister, Joyce Allen. Survivors include sons, Don S. Flesher Jr. and wife Ileana of Van Alstyne; Clay S. Flesher of Sedalia; granddaughters, Kristin Boyd and husband Chris of McKinney; Heather Boyd and husband Brad of Van Alstyne; Samantha Flesher of Las Vegas, Nevada; Stephanie Flesher of Euless; Dakota Flesher of Van Alstyne; step-grandson, Alex Vierra of Las Vegas, Nevada; great-grandchildren, Ella Rose and Kayden Bradley Boyd and Bradley Max Boyd; one sister, Evelyn McGuffee of Ft. Worth; and one sister-in-law, Jessie Flesher of McKinney; plus several nieces, nephews, and many cousins.
Visitation is scheduled for from 6 -8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7. Funeral services are to begin at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 8, at the Flesher Funeral Home Chapel in Van Alstyne. Officiating the services will be Bob Layman, Gary Gibbs, and Tom Middleton. Interment will follow at Van Alstyne Cemetery.