Donald Jarrell

Donald (Donny) Marion Jarrell, 73, a longtime Eastland resident, passed away peacefully at his home on Saturday, May 31, 2025. Funeral services are scheduled for Friday, June 6th at 11:00 a.m. at First Baptist Church Eastland. A graveside service will take place on Saturday, June 7th at 11:00 a.m. at Lost Prairie Cemetery in Groesbeck, Texas. The family will receive visitors from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 5th at Edwards Funeral home in Eastland

Donny was born on February 22, 1952, in Tyler, Texas to Sharon LaNelle Keeling and Marion Ledbetter (M.L.) Jarrell. He was raised in Wortham, Texas and was a 1970 graduate of Wortham High School. He was a phenomenal athlete and played football, baseball, ran track, and played basketball. He still holds a record for scoring 52 points in one football game against Frost in 1969. After high school, he went on to play college football and baseball at New Mexico Highlands in Las Vegas, New Mexico.

He married Sara Eugenia (Gina) Sims on December 22, 1973, in Mexia, Texas. Donny and Gina were married for 51 years and had 3 daughters, Jennifer, Leigh, and Joanna. The Jarrell Five moved to Eastland, Texas in 1985. Donny worked for Gulf Pipeline Company, Chevron Pipeline Company, and ONEOK for a total of 38 years before retiring in 2017.

Donny and Gina raised all 3 of their girls in Eastland, and Donny was supportive and involved in everything his girls did from Acteens, Youth Group, 4-H, band, band boosters, softball, basketball, track, and cheerleading. He was nicknamed the "Candy Man" when Jennifer was in high school because he ran the cotton candy machine on Friday nights for the Band Boosters and was always covered from head to toe in pink sugar by the end of all the home games. Donny spent several years as the Assistant Coach for Leigh's Summer League Softball Travel Team, and when she played high school softball, Donny became the Biggest Lady MAVS Softball fan there ever was always yelling and cheering the team on with his famous one-liner-------"THROW THE HEAT!" Joanna, his baby girl, was his track star, and you could always hear Donny Jarrell yelling from the stands, "You better kick it, Joanna!" Donny's pride and joy was always "His Girls" as he so fondly referred to them. Then, his grandchildren came along, and "His Girls" quickly took a backseat to them, which was just fine because he loved and spoiled his grandchildren like only The BEST Grandpa can do! Donny and Gina spent many weekends and summers traveling all over Texas, and sometimes out of state, watching their grandchildren play t-ball, baseball, softball, football, and basketball. There was nothing that made Donny prouder than his grandchildren.

Donny accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior in 1982, which he would often say was the greatest decision he ever made. He loved Jesus and was very involved in church at First Baptist Church Eastland where he was ordained as a Deacon in 2016. He loved driving the church van on Sunday mornings to pick up people for church and serving as a door greeter, welcoming everyone to Sunday morning services. Simply put, Donny loved the Lord, he loved people, and he absolutely loved being at church.

Donny was preceded in death by both his parents; a granddaughter, Avery Grace Arrington; a niece, Sarabeth Jarrell Matthews; and a nephew, John James "JJ" Jarrell. He is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 51 years, Gina Sims Jarrell; his three daughters-- Jennifer Jarrell Minton and husband, Sam, of Albuquerque, NM; Leigh Jarrell Arrington of Abernathy, TX; and Joanna Jarrell Fullingim and husband, Austin, of Abernathy, TX; his grandchildren, Haley Minton, Sara Baltazar and husband, Jesus, Greg Minton, Jackson Arrington, Evie Grace Fullingim, Ellis Fullingim, and Emersyn Fullingim; his great-grandchildren, Amari Baltazar, Lila Minton, and Kaiden Baltzar; his siblings-- a sister, Leta Jo Jarrell Goolsby, a brother, Randy Jarrell and wife Bettina, and half-brother, Kenneth Blacklidge Jr., and several nieces and nephews.

Donny leaves behind a wonderful legacy of family and friends who loved him and will miss him so much. We grieve now because we miss our dad, our grandpa, and our mom misses her husband. But we know we will all be reunited with him again in heaven one day.

Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church Eastland located at 405 S. Seaman, Eastland, Texas 76448 or to Lost Prairie Cemetery Association in Care of Wanda Sims at 562 LCR 421, Groesbeck, Texas 76642.