Donald Franklin Mowery passed away on February 15, 2015. He had been ill for several years, became disabled, and resided for a short while at Brian Center in Salisbury. Eventually his illness progressed to the point requiring treatment at Novant Hospital. He was evacuated from there to the Baptist Neurology Hospital in Winston Salem where his illness was diagnosed as terminal. On February 9, he was moved to the VA Hospice House in Salisbury where he resided until his demise.

Don graduated with the Class of 1960 from Boyden High School. Classmates will remember him as a fine athlete and a gregarious fellow who easily made friends with everyone. After a break for military service, he was Pi Beta Kappa at NC State and graduated there in 1967. Initially, he worked as a sales representative with the Chicago Pneumatic Tool Company.

His service to his country consisted of duty with the US Army Special Forces, 1962-65. He served honorably as a Green Beret parachutist and combat infantryman in Vietnam, during the very early part of the war.

Don was preceded in death by his father, Hartman Baxter Mowery, and his grandparents, Ernest Love and Carrie Hartman Mowery, formerly of 127 East Monroe Street—also his stepfather and mother Edward Maurice (Ted) and Merle Rattz Larrabee, and his foster grandparents, Walter and Ada Rattz, formerly of 601 West Council Street.

He is survived by his children Dorrie Christina and John Christian Mowery. Also surviving him are his brother Baxter Mowery, Jr., and his college room mate and lifetime best friend Hayden Simmerson, both of Salisbury.

A funeral ceremony for Don, with full military honors, is scheduled for 10:00 AM Friday, February 20, 2015 at the Salisbury National Cemetery on Statesville Boulevard. All those who are interested are invited to attend.