Walter Don Moon, Sr.

Funeral services for Walter Don Moon, Sr., "Coach Moon", 79, of Minden, will be at 2:00 p.m., Monday, March 26, 2012 at Crawford-A. Crim Funeral Home chapel with Rev. Matt Pitts, Rev. Doc Crow, and Rev. Randy Penney officiating. Interment will follow at Shiloh Cemetery under the direction of Crawford-A. Crim Funeral Home of Henderson. Visitation will be from 3 - 5 p.m., Sunday, March 25 at the funeral home.Mr. Moon died Friday, March 23, 2012 at his residence. He was born Nov. 21, 1932 in the Sweet Gum community and lived in Rusk County all his life. Don's educational profession was driven by his parent's focused influence. He completed high school in Minden, l951. One of his honors in high school happened in l948 when he was a winner of Livestock Showmanship at the State Fair in Dallas. He caught his first calf at the Houston Stock Show. His love for agriculture was again rewarded in l949 by receiving the highest honor in Texas to attend the National 4-H Congress in Chicago. As his youth advanced, he began spending many hours in the gym dribbling a basketball. His basketball career started for the Minden Tigers where he earned the reputation as a basketball competitor. He played point guard for Texas A & M for four years. In 1975 he received his Master's Degree and Superintendent's Certification from Stephen F. Austin State University.Don received honors throughout his life. He played basketball all over South America, (Chili, Peru, and Ecuador) as a Goodwill Ambassador for Tennessee Oil Company. After leaving the court in competitions, Don turned to basketball officiating. He officiated for twenty-five years, being the youngest official ever selected to be in the Southwest Conference.Don's teaching profession started in Houston in l954 at Shady Dell Elementary,moving to Smiley High School as basketball coach. Since that time, he coached at Laneville High School, Argentina, S.A., Cushing ISD, and Mt. Enterprise.He completed his public education at Carlisle ISD with 27 years as Carlisle'sElementary Principal. After completing 40 years in public school, he worked forStephen F. Austin State University for l2 years as a student teacher supervisor.Since retirement, Don and Brenda worked in Yellowstone National Park. Their love for travel and adventure continued throughout his retirement.Don was a devoted family man and a good Christian. He was a member of Minden Baptist all his life where he taught Young Couples Sunday Class and filled many other needed capacities within the church. His love for God, family, grandchildren, and others was demonstrated by his actions. He was preceded in death by his parents, Tobe and Merline Moon; and grandson, Andrew Moon.Survivors include his wife of 47 years, Brenda Moon of Minden; two sons, Donny Moon and wife Ashlie of Winnfield, La, and Toby Moon and wife Wendy of Minden; four grandchildren, Nate Moon, Avery Moon, Emily Moon, and McKenna Moon.Pallbearers are J.N. Hudson, Buddy Dawson, David Ross Pyle, Jerry Rawlinson, Charlie Franklin, Tim Akins, Jeff Griffin, and Russell Moon. Honorary pallbearers are Larry Davis, Bobby Hays, Jackie Hayner, Scott Rhame, Rodney Roberts, Glenn Boatman, Waylon Sanders, Minden Men's Sunday School Class, and 1959 Laneville basketball team.In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to: the Don Moon Scholarship, TexasBank, 1120 Hwy 79 N, Henderson, Tx 75654; the Minden Baptist Church Building Fund, PO Box 160, Minden, Tx 75680; or Hospice of East Texas in Tyler, 4111 University Blvd., Tyler, Tx., 75701.Condolences may be made online at www.crawfordacrim.com.

Walter Don Moon, Sr.

November 21, 1932 - March 23, 2012