Donald Jack Dawes was a loving husband, brother, father, grandfather, uncle and friend to so many. He passed away on December 18, 2018 at the age of 69. He was surrounded by his family at his home in Salinas.
On January 19, 1949 Raymond and Thelma Dawes welcomed Donald Jack Dawes in San Jose, CA. He lived in San Jose then moved to Salinas when he was eight and has lived here since. In 1967, he graduated from North Salinas High School. He then attended and graduated from Hartnell Community College and joined the Sheetmetal Workers union in Monterey County.
Don met Kathy Wolgamott in 1969 square dancing. They married five months later at Madonna del Sasso Church in Salinas. In 1971, they welcomed Steven and Sheri Dawes. In 1975, he became part owner of Comfort Control Heating and Sheetmetal with his brothers. In 2001, he retired and started traveling the county in his RV. His favorite places to visit were Yosemite and the Colorado River.
During his life he participated in many organizations. From 1968-72 he square danced with the Square Nickles. He then joined Buckles and Bows in 1972 and square danced. He also called Bingo when he was a member at the Prunedale Grange. During the 1980s he was a member of the Salinas Elks.
In his free time, he enjoyed the outdoors. He liked to go fishing all over, including trips to Alaska. He went upland bird hunting with his brothers. He started horse packing when he was young and continued with his children (even if they didn’t want to). He loved spending the day shooting sporting clays with the family. He participated in many bowling leagues throughout his life. In the mid-1980s he got his pilots license and got his own plane. Don and Kathy enjoyed scuba diving together all over the world.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Raymond Luther Dawes and Thelma Pauline (Fear) Dawes.
He is survived by his wife Kathy Dawes; brothers, Raymond (Carol) and Tom (Mary) Dawes; children, Steven (Andrea) and Sheri Dawes; grand-children, Andrew Dawes, Savanna Lindow, Shaun Lindow and Morgan Dawes; nieces and nephews, Doreen (Mark) Hargrave, Bryan (Kim) Dawes, Russell Wolgamott III, Jennifer (Mitch) Vasin, Katrina (Josh) Calabrese, Christal (Eric) Christensen, Timothy Pedroza, Amber (Mark) Nicolayev, Karen Fellows, Kathleen Fellows, and Marin Wolgamott.
A Visitation will be held 3:00p.m. to 7:00p.m. Wednesday, December 26, 2018 at Struve and Laporte Chapel, 41 W. San Luis Street, Salinas, CA. 93901.
There will be a Mass held 10:00a.m. Thursday, December 27, 2018 at Madonna del Sasso Church, 320 E. Laurel Drive, Salinas, CA. 93906.
Burial to follow at Garden of Memories Cemetery, 850 Abbott Street, Salinas, CA. 93901.
At 1:00p.m. there will be a Celebration of Life at Laguna Seca, in the Red Bull Pavilion.
Please do not send flowers, as the family has allergies. In lieu, you can make donations to Madonna del Sasso Church.
Funeral Arrangements by Struve and Laporte Funeral Home.
Online condolences to www.struveandlaporte.com
