INSIGHTS FROM DONNELL thorn, and I’m grateful God used it for His glory. I’m also thankful that you humbled yourself to seek both spiritu - al and medical healing. I hope to keep sharing your story so others battling
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Mom is doing well, though we all miss you deeply. She still loves “making a circle,” around the ranch just like the two of you did together so many times, almost always checking the mares along the way. I often wonder if that was something your parents enjoyed too. I never had the chance to know your dad, but I’m grateful for the sto - ries you shared about him. It’s hard to imagine that you were only 29 years old when he went to Heaven and you had to take over the family ranch. I’m so thankful I was blessed with almost twice that many years working side by side with you. Thank you for being an incredible teacher and an even better dad. I grew up on this ranch opening gates for you, never dreaming that one day I’d treasure doing it again. These past few years, making those circles with you was a true blessing. I drove and opened most of the gates because your body just wasn’t quite strong enough anymore, but I admired how you insisted on opening at least one. It was like you wanted to prove, to yourself and to me, that you still could. I cherish those moments. Thank you for opening gates, more than just on the ranch, but gates & doors you helped open in life for our entire family. Thank you for teaching us to be
y’all built, our Headquarters, the Bull Development Center, and Tiger Bass Lake. In addition, you can see some of the things your dad built, like the Rock Barn and the house where you raised us, and later where Kelli and I raised our family. That house is Mom’s other favorite stop, because now Lanham and Josey live there with their twin boys that were born just two days before you went to Heaven. Holding them brings the sweetest smile to her face and the comfort of knowing that y’all’s 26 great-grandchildren are carrying on the family tradition of “doing your best, with what you have, while you can.” And just recently, Bob Tallman announced to the world at the Fort Worth Stock Show Ranch Rodeo that Jaylee Brown won both go-rounds of barrel racing while riding double, as she and Myles are expecting your 27th great-grandchild. Your funeral was a tremendous bless - ing with an outpouring of love from people who came from near and far to celebrate the life you lived and the example you set. Many were especially moved by the story of the cross you built. Betsy & Marianne were adamant that I share that during one of your darkest battles with depression, you spent hours crafting that cross from tough old mesquite, even letting Rob A. and me help a little. It gave new mean - ing to bowing humbly at the foot of the cross and to denying ourselves, taking up our cross, and following Jesus. I’ll never forget the message you shared when the cross was finally hung at the front of the church, how mes - quite is strong but imperfect, just like us. You pointed out the chipped corner and the scars left by insects that bored deep into the wood, explaining that following Christ doesn’t mean perfec - tion. Our imperfections leave scars and consequences, yet Christ’s sacrifice atones for our sins when we repent and seek forgiveness. In 2 Corinthians 12:7-10, Paul speaks of his “thorn in the flesh” and reminds us that “God’s grace is sufficient, for His power is made perfect in our weak - ness.” He never said what his “thorn” was, but he inferred that we all have them. I believe depression was your
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depression will seek help, because you proved it is a treatable disease. People also loved hearing the story behind your colored glasses. Mom smiled when I shared how you were the first college graduate and how she helped you every step of the way. People were amazed that you strug - gled to read most of your life and that your classmates called you dumb. However, your second-grade teacher encouraged you and inspired you to use other senses like listening and watching. She knew you were smart. Years later, you learned that dyslexia was the cause of your challenge with reading. After hearing about Irlen lenses, you discovered how colored filters helped you see the words clear - ly. The book, Reading by the Colors: Overcoming Dyslexia by Helen Irlen, helped describe this phenomenon. That book also motivated me to start color coding EPDs. I recently started sharing our EPD targets and color codes with the public. People love it and often call or write to say thank you for helping them better under - stand and use EPDs to produce better cattle. This first sale without you will sure be strange, but I know you will have the best seat of all to see it from Heaven. Dad, you were a leader in so many ar - eas: AI, ET, EPDs, cattle genetics, hors - es, range and brush management, wildlife stewardship, estate planning, and more. Thank you for teaching us to work, earn, save, and invest wisely. Thank you for teaching us that we work for our customers. I will do my best to follow in your footsteps. The words you ended every prayer with still echo in our hearts: “…guide us, direct us, help us to be of Thy service and do Thy will, in Jesus name, amen.” We miss you and love you, Dad.
“...GUIDE US, DIRECT US, HELP US TO BE OF THY SERVICE..”
stewards of the land, livestock and our community. Thanks for helping make this ranch (God’s, not ours) more pro - ductive while teaching each generation about birth, growth, maturity, and even death in such a variety of meaningful ways. Mom has two favorite stops on her “circles” these days. The first is the family cemetery you and she selected together. She enjoys the quiet there, and it’s amazing how often the mares join her. They help dry the tears and bring a smile to her face. From that spot, you can see so much of what
“Keeping the ranch in the family and the family in the ranch.”
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