Donald Gene Brummett

Donald Gene Brummett

Donald Gene Brummett was born May 3, 1937 in Briartown, Oklahoma to Dorsey Dee Brummett and Ophelia Beatrice (Lewis) Hartness.  In February 1938 Ophelia and Don, who was 9 months old at the time, took a bus from Oklahoma to Visalia, California where Ophelia married Robert William Hartness that day.  While being raised in California by Ophelia and Robert, Don lived in Holy City, California; Lexington, California; Saratoga, California; Campbell, California and Los Gatos, California and received his high school education in Campbell, California.  As a young boy, Don spent his days after school working in his parents fruit orchards with his sister Valoria “Carol” Hartness.  He would work on the tractors disking orchards and hauling flat beds full of fruit through the Santa Cruz Mountains to Libby’s cannery.  Don met his future wife, Billie Mae (Gruenwald) Brummett, when she asked for a job to work on the family orchard in 1954. 

On May 28, 1955 at the age of 18, Don married the love of his life, Billie Mae (Gruenwald) Brummett who was 15 at the time.  Don and Billie had their first child Pamela Marie (Brummett) Mace on August 31, 1956 in San Jose, California; their second child, Louie Curtis Brummett, on February 8, in 1958 in Tulsa, Oklahoma; their third child, Sherrie Jean (Brummett) Thompson, on June 16, 1959 in Muskogee, Oklahoma; their fourth child, Frank Wayne Brummett, on January 22, 1961 in Tulsa, Oklahoma; and their fifth child Billie Dawn (Brummett) Reamy on January 21, 1963 in Los Gatos, California.

Don learned the concrete trade from Billie’s father, William Keith Gruenwald, at the age of 17.  Don and Billie moved to Oklahoma in 1957 to rekindle the relationship with Don’s biological father Dee Brummett.  Billie and Don lived in various places in Oklahoma such as Skiatook, Collinsville, Porum and Sperry but would return to California in the summers to work the Hartness fruit orchards and concrete jobs when work in Oklahoma was slow.  In 1965, Don and Billie and bought their permanent home and land in Sperry, Oklahoma from Dee Brummett.  Don formed his own concrete business in 1965 and worked many prominent projects in the Tulsa area including the Keystone Dam, and various hospitals.  Don and Billie raised their five children on their property in Sperry on Bird Creek, in which they had horses, cows, chickens, hound dogs, donkeys, and a pig.  Their house was always a welcoming house full of unconditional love, joy, and the smell of homemade food.  Don had a great love for his children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren and loved holding them when they were babies and enjoyed teaching them to walk.  Don enjoyed family gatherings, fishing, hunting (coon, deer, turkey), rooster fighting, playing the guitar, storytelling, talking about concrete and construction, watching Judge Judy, imparting his guidance to his children and grandchildren, reading his daily devotions, daily communion, attending church and spending quality time with his wife Billie.  Some of Don’s famous quotes were: “Choices not chances determine the destiny of life”, “Not all trappers wear fur caps”, “Endeavor to persevere”, “Going to see a man about a dog”, “Grandpa can we stop for a pop? I’ll give you a pop”, “It’s not what you make, it’s what you save”, “I’m not saying money is everything but it sure makes the wheels turn easier”; “It’s just as easy to love a rich man as a poor man, but just a little bit easier”, “Don’t fly around the daises and end up in the cow pile” “Some people live and learn other people just live”, “You save nothing, you have nothing”, “Ask grandma for ice cream (because she already told him no!)”, “If you come around here you will see some pretty good old dogs”, “Better to dwell on the house top than in the house with brawling women”, “Go to Lowe’s, get a ladder and get over it!”, and “Billie!!!”.

Don and Billie shared a life full of love for each other, their family and God.  They took great pride in passing down a family legacy rooted in God.  Don went to be with the Lord on Friday, January 27, 2023 at The Journey Home in Bartlesville, Oklahoma.  He was welcomed in Heaven by his mother, Ophelia Hartness; his biological father, Dee Brummett; his step-father, Bob Hartness; his sister, Debbie Hartness; his niece, Kelly Kimballl; his grandson, Travis Brummett; his granddaughter, Kari Russell; and his great-grandson, Travor Brown.

His memory will be forever cherished by those who remain: wife, Billie Brummett; daughter Pamela Mace; son Louie Brummett; daughter, Sherrie Thompson; and husband Ronnie son Frank Brummett, daughter Billie Dawn Reamy; grandchildren: Christie Mace, Joel Mace, Lisa Mace, Curtis Brummett, Luke Brummett, RyLee Brummett, Amber Lanphere, Terrie Lusk, Tarah Wyatt, Frank Brummett, Chazz Brummett, Riley Brooks, Brent Reamy, Ashlee Reamy; great-grandchildren: Shelby Russell, Ryan Russell, Taylor Russell, Trenton Runyon, Ashton Stubblefield, Maddox Stubblefield, Weston Mace, Kelsey Mace, Emilia Jolene Mace, Madison Spencer, Collin Fields, Gavin Hall, Makayla Bowman, Tobin Brummett, Braylee Brummett, Brooklyn Lanphere, Kadence Morgan, Lillian Morgan, Seleanna Coffe, J’Lea Fennell, Tristan Brummett, Adam Brummett, Rhys Brummett, Safari Reamy, Oce’Anna Reamy; great-great-grandchildren: Hunter Coffe, Archer Coffe; sister, Carol Hartness; niece, Shawni Shamblin, and several great nieces and great nephews and a host of other relatives and friends.

The family of Donald Gene Brummett entrusted his care and services to Sien-Shelton Funeral Home.

A memorial has been established in Donald Brummett's memory. Those who wish to contribute in his memory may do so to the Journey Home at 900 N.E. Washington Blvd. Bartlesville, OK 74006.

The family wishes to express their sincere appreciation to the Journey Home for the Excellent care they received during the last few weeks of Donald's life.

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