Donald James Teeple

Donald James Teeple of Groesbeck, went home to be with the Lord, passing away at home on Thursday, July 23, 2015, at age 76. A Rosary will be recited at Groesbeck Funeral Home on Sunday, July 26, 2015, at 4:30 P.M., with visitation from 3:00 to 5:00 P.M. A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11:00 A.M., at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Mexia, on Monday, July 27, 2015, con-celebrated by Father Justin Nguyen and Father Benji Magnaye. Burial will be in St. Mary’s Cemetery in West, on Monday at 3:00 P.M. Pallbearers will be the Knights of Columbus from St. Mary’s in Mexia. Donald was born August 22, 1938 in Las Animas, Colorado. His parents were James William Teeple and Alva Schleede Teeple. Don graduated from Holy Cross Abby in Canyon City, CO, and then moved to Texas to attend nursing school at Providence Hospital in Waco. While in Waco, Don met fellow nursing student, Lillian Stacy Matus from West. They were in the last graduating class at Providence (1960.) Donald and Lillian were united in marriage on December 31, 1960 in Waco. Their marriage was also the beginning of his military career, where he served in the U. S. Army in the Army Nursing Corps from 1961 through 1967. Lillian moved with him when he was stationed in San Antonio, Fort Carson, CO, Japan for three years, Fort Benning, GA and finally at Fort Hood. They both loved the time spent in Japan, and travelled throughout the country and brought home many mementoes, including one of their children who was born in Japan. After he was discharged, the family lived in Ross and Hubbard and for the past twenty-two years in Groesbeck. He retired from nursing and worked in the antiques business, with stores at one time in Hubbard and Groesbeck. He also caned and repaired chairs for the public. He developed an interest in Indian Lore while he was a Boy Scout in his youth, and participated in Indian Dancing in regalia and enjoyed collecting arrowheads. He passed on some of this interest while he worked with the Boy Scout program at the Mexia State School. His greatest interests were beading and making rosaries. He made artistic Indian beaded items and religious articles as gifts for family and friends. Donald was a member of the Knights of Columbus at St. Mary’s in Mexia, involved in service work for the church. He was a man with spontaneous humor, with quick witted one-liners. Even after he was ill during the past year, he enjoyed making his nurses laugh. Donald is survived by his wife, Lillian Teeple of Groesbeck; daughter and son-in-law, Angela and Travis Collier of Waco; daughter and son-in-law, Kim and Arthur Garland of West; daughter, Sheila Hoffpauir of Round Rock; son and daughter-in-law, Mark and Tiffany Teeple of Hewitt; six grandchildren: Travis Collier, Jr. and his wife, Virginia Collier of Lewisville; Joseph Garland of Waco; Christopher Garland of West; Karen Hoffpauir of Austin; Abby Teeple of Hewitt; Aspen Teeple of Hewitt; and Anyssa Teeple of Hewitt; and three great grandchildren: Lillian Collier, Matthew Collier, and Mary Collier of Lewisville.