DONNIE C. CHESNUT, 65, of Ranger, TX passed away Aug. 15,
2007 in Abilene, TX.
He will be missed by a life time of friends and loving
family members. He was a loving husband, and father, a
friend you could always count on. He was someone who
loved to fish and hunt, farming and ranching as well as,
swim, water ski, and ride motorcycles. In his earlier
years he loved his fast cars and he won the national
championship at Green Valley Raceway NHRA in 1968 for
the fastest bike in a quarter of a mile, and numerous
races in enduro and flat track events.
Donnie was born in Gordon, TX on July 18, 1942 to C.F.
Chesnut and Vie Bradford. Donnie graduated from Ranger
High School and Ranger Jr. College. He also was a graduate
of The Dallas Institute of Funeral Service in 1964, where
he earned his degree as a licensed funeral director and
embalmer, and went to work for Sparkman-Hillcrest Funeral
Home in Dallas.
Following this he entered the U.S. Army where he served
during the Berlin Crisis as a Spec 5 of the 49th Division
at Fort Polk Louisiana. After being honorably discharge
from the Army he worked for Killingsworth Funeral Home
in Ranger. Donnie served as Police Commissioner and Fire
Marshal in Ranger.
Donnie married Cindy Fox on August 28, 1965 in the First
Baptist Church where he was a member. Together they owned
and operated Chesnut's Cycle Center a Yamaha franchise
Dealership and Chesnut's Automotive for 30 years. In 1985
he opened Ranger Radiator and ran it until the early 1990's.
One of Donnie's hobbies was operating Ham Radio's and
talking to numerous radio operators. He was preceded in
death by his dad C.F. Chesnut in 1995. He lived for 58
years on Hodges St. on Indian Hill in Ranger.
Donnie is survived by his loving wife, Cindy Chesnut of
Ranger; a son, Vance Chesnut (RHS-1991) and wife, Jacque
of Strawn; his mother, Vie Chesnut of Ranger; a sister-
in-law, Patsy Green of Brownwood; one brother-in-law,
Raymond Fox and wife, Nona of Eastland; & a granddaughter,
Shannon Lisenbe and great granddaughter, Hanna Lisenbe
and several nephews, and one niece.
MOTHER: VIE CHESNUT, 84, passed away on Oct. 18, 2009
in Ranger, TX, with burial in Evergreen Cemetery at Ranger.
Vietta Marie Bradford was born on April 7, 1925 in Brazos,
TX. She was raised in the Gordon-Mingus area and moved
to Ranger 1946 when she married Chesnut. She was a licensed
beautician for over 55 years. She operated several beauty
shops in the Ranger area well as a ranch. She was member
of the First Baptist Church.
She was preceded in death by her only son, Donnie Chesnut
(RHS-1961). At the time of her death, she was survived by
grandson, Vance Chesnut (RHS-1991) and numerous nieces,
nephews and cousins.