Don Richard Alexander was born on February 19, 1945 in Whitesboro, TX to Lorena Estelle (Garnett) and Ted Roosevelt Alexander. Don passed away after a very short battle with cancer on Wednesday, July 26, 2023. Gina Estelle (Brigman) Alexander was born on February 7, 1946 in Denison, TX to Estella Imogene (Henderson) and Leon Brigman. Gina passed away six and a half weeks after Don due to a broken heart on Monday, September 11, 2023.

A graveside service, under the direction of Bob Bratcher with American Funeral Services, honoring the lives of both Don and Gina will be held Wednesday, September 13, 2023 at 2:00 pm at Oakwood Cemetery in Whitesboro, TX. TJ Wasden, son of Don's lifelong friend and fellow Marine Tom Wasden, will officiate. Dress is casual as Don was always in jeans and a button up and Gina loved her t-shirts and comfy pants.

Don graduated from Sherman High School and quickly enlisted in the United States Marine Corp in August 1963 and served until his honorable discharge in October 1966. He was enlisted during the Peacetime and Vietnam War Era, where he served as a radio operator. Gina graduated from Denison High School and in May of 1967 Don and Gina were married in Sherman, TX. Gina was a natural born homemaker and caretaker, and she continued caring for her relatives' children after she and Don were married. Don was raised with a strong work ethic and never give up attitude that allowed him to be successful in whatever business venture he encountered. Don also had a love for the color red and fast cars, preferably together. He was an avid drag racer and loved traveling the country to enter whatever race he could.

In 1982 and 1985 Don and Gina were blessed with two sons, Ryan and Cole. Gina could not have been a better mother to her two boys. She was the best classroom mom volunteer, chef, neighborhood carpool driver, and always up for any fun adventure with her boys and their friends. Don also loved taking his boys with him on his weekend races, instilling the love of the color red and dragsters at a very young age.

No matter what trials and tribulations life threw at them, Don and Gina were by each other's side for over 56 years. Gina was a simple "no fuss, no frills" woman who was happiest at home taking care of her boys, her many nieces and nephews, or her granddaughter Gracie when she was little. Don was happiest taking care of Gina so she could stay home and take care of the family. They were each other's best friend, or "old goat" as they referenced one another. They started and ended every day at their 30 year old scratched up kitchen table they never would get rid of because of the many memories it held of kids playing or the boys building their model cars or airplanes on it.

In recent years, Don enjoyed spending time with his granddaughter, feeding his cows, eating lunch with his friends, and tinkering with the dragsters. He was very fortunate to have a great group of friends in both the drag racing and farming community in Odessa, TX and Durant, OK. Lester and Valois McGaha, with Harlow Sammons Racing, helped make Don's dreams come true when they sponsored his comp eliminator dragster starting around 2010. Don loved carrying around his grandson all over the drag strip, reminding him of when he would bring his two boys when they were young.

Gina's favorite thing to do was crossword and sudoku puzzles. Her mind was sharp as a tack and she could recall stories, names, and exact dates from decades before. She preferred a handwritten letter over a phone call, and frequently wrote and mailed letters to Ryan. Even though her husband and sons only wanted to watch fast cars go in a straight line, Gina thoroughly enjoyed Nascar. After Don passed she got to spend her Sundays with Ryan "watching cars go in circles" as Ryan would say and visiting about the days gone by. Never one for the need to have any electronics, she did enjoy seeing Facebook pictures of all the kids (now grown adults) she loved so much, especially Tyler Palmore, who always referred to Don as "stud muffin" and was a constant in the Alexander household growing up. Gina truly was so strong and while she never cried after Don's passing, she would say how much she missed her old goat.

Don and Gina are survived by their son, Ryan Alexander and daughter in law Allison (Bratcher) of Prosper, TX, granddaughter Gracie Alexander of Pottsboro, TX, grandson Colton Alexander from Prosper, TX, as well as many nieces and nephews.

They are preceded in death by their parents, and son USMC LCpl Cole Alexander, Operation Iraqi Freedom.

The family would like to thank the amazing nurses and doctors at TMC for the care they gave Don during the last two weeks of his life. They truly showed such compassion and kindness to Don and our family. We will be forever grateful to you all.

In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to St. Jude's Children's Hospital