A Celebration of Life was held on August 22, 2015, 11:00am at Praise Center of Bakersfield 345 Chester Avenue. Bakersfield, California 93304. For Donald Franklin Dawson of Bakersfield, California. Donnie was born October 21, 1962 in Bakersfield, CA to Albert and Euneva Dawson .
Born and raised in Bakersfield, Donnie was one of three children, and, although the youngest, he loved his siblings and wouldn’t allow anyone to mistreat them. Donnie had two daughters, Amanda Allen, whom he never met and DawnieRae Dawson, the pride he felt toward her and her children was evident. Moving to Louisiana to be with them was the highlight of his life, and he was his happiest when spending time with his daughter and grandchildren. He loved being a “grandpa,” and his greatest joy was being with his grandchildren and making them laugh.
As Donnie faced the end of his life, he found peace and comfort by turning to Jesus. He asked for Bible studies and found that the promise of Heaven was his. He was baptized by Sis. Diane Pulse on July 23, 2015. When he suffered with pain, he would ask his brother to play the piano and sing to him. Although he had little strength, he would sing along as his brother played and sang of Heaven.
He is survived by his daughter, Dawnie Rae Dawson and grandchildren, Abel Acosta Ortiz III, Aiden Matthew Ortiz, Alani Rae Ortiz, and Jazzlynn Gabrielle Falcon of Lake Charles, LA; daughter, Amanda Allen of Humble, TX; and grandson, Maddox Russell; parents, Albert and Euneva Dawson of Bakersfield; sister, Linda Dawson and her fiancé/husband Kenneth Mullen of Bakersfield; brother, Gerald Dawson of Bakersfield; niece Alisha Capps and her husband Joe of Bakersfield; nephew, Shannon Watson of Bakersfield, Jennifer Dobson and Jennette Parmer, who he loved as his own daughters, Donna Marie Parmer and Martin Jason Ordiway, who were loving and supportive friends, sons-in-laws Joe Gilbert Falcon III and Abel Acosta Ortiz Jr. as well as numerous other relatives and a host of friends.
You could not complete this life story without the mention of Donny's precious pug Gimp, whom Donny loved so very much. Gimp loved Donny as well. Donny and Gimp were like soul mates watching over each other daily for the last few years of Donny's life. Gimp now lives with Donny's family in Louisiana.