Don Wayland Samuels passed away on Sunday, December 10, 2023, at 11:45 AM at the Hendricks Hospice Facility, Abilene, Texas with his wife Gala, holding his hand.
Don was born in Ashdown, Arkansas on Christmas Eve, December 24, 1944, while his father, Wesley Samuels, was serving with the 82nd Airborne in World War II.
Don attended high school in Dumas, Texas, and played baseball and football. The football team won two State Championships, back-to-back. The Dumas Demons were Class AAA State Champions for the 1961 and 1962 seasons. Don, his teammates and others who were in high school during this time stayed in touch over the years. His days in Dumas were cherished by Don. Don graduated from Dumas High School in 1963.
Don attended West Texas State University, Canyon, Texas and Eastern New Mexico University, Portales, N.M., earning a degree in Criminal Justice. Immediately after college, Don obtained a position with Collins Radio, working in Germany for several years under contract with the U.S. Government. During his spare time, Don traveled all over Europe. He made trips to England, France, Belgium, Switzerland, The Netherlands, Monaco, Italy, Austria and Spain. He visited the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower, the Church at Notre Dame, Stonehenge, the Palace at Versailles, and the Strasbourg Cathedral. Don also visited several locations where his father was stationed while serving with the 82nd Airborne during WWII. For a young man in his 20’s, the ability to travel Europe extensively was a gift.
Don returned to the United States and entered the Texas Department of Public Safety’s Academy, “A” school of 1968 for new officers. After serving with the DPS for 11 years, Don moved to Ruidoso, New Mexico. He ran for Sheriff of Lincoln County, New Mexico and won. He served as Sheriff until his family returned to Texas. Don specialized in fraud investigations. Don worked for the State of Texas at various agencies including the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts-motor fuels tax fraud; Texas Lottery Commission-lottery fraud; Texas Department of Insurance-Chief of Health Care Fraud; Texas Attorney General’s office-Medicaid Fraud and the Inspector General of Texas-Medicare Fraud. Don was a charter member of the Certified Fraud Examiners Association, an organization of anti-fraud professionals.
Many of Don’s cases were successfully prosecuted in Federal and State courts. He successfully investigated the case which put a former Gotti associate, living in witness protection but using his new identity and clean slate to begin new tax fraud schemes involving motor fuels tax receipts. The perpetrator served a long Federal prison sentence. Don was sworn in as a special agent of The Federal Bureau of Investigations and as a Deputy United States Marshal on various sensitive cases and often embedded in other agencies.
Don worked for EDS and Arthur Anderson investigating fraud issues. Don then joined Dell Computer as Head of Global Fraud Prevention and Investigations. Don was a licensed Peace Officer for the State of Texas. He achieved the Master Proficiency Certificate from the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement.
Don started his own Private Investigation company based in Comanche and Austin. Don wrote and published two books. The first, “Black Knights of the Panhandle-Dumas Demons” detailed the joys of life in a small town during the 1960’s and the thrill of playing football on a Championship team two years in a row. Don also wrote “The Badge and My Faith”, focusing on his law enforcement career and how his faith allowed him to survive the dangers and risks inherent in law enforcement.
Don was a member of St. Matthews Episcopal Church, Comanche, Texas.
Don loved fishing for trout. He returned to Red River, New Mexico almost annually since visiting the town as a teenager.
Don was diagnosed in August 2023 with Multiple Myeloma. Massive damage to his spine had already occurred. Don fought for as long as he could. After an emergency care flight to Abilene on Thanksgiving Day, he was informed that he was out of options. He entered the Hendricks Hospice facility on November 29, 2023. He slipped into a coma within an hour of entering the facility and passed away on December 10, 2023.
Don is survived by his wife of 29 years, Gala York Samuels. His three children, Donnie, Amanda and Jill, and numerous grandchildren; his sister, Sharon Samuels Martin and husband Daniel of McAlester, Oklahoma; his beloved nephew, Michael Myers and his daughter, Karlee of McAlester, Oklahoma; a niece, Michele Dugger and her children Cheyhoma, Samuel and Janessa of Hartshorne, Oklahoma; and his fur buddy, Bailey. He was preceded in death by his parents Wesley Samuels and Charleen Mowery Samuels and an infant sister, Rita Kaye Samuels.
Don was a member of the Choctaw Indian Tribe of Oklahoma.
A memorial for Don shall be held after the first of the year in Dumas, Texas.
The family wants to thank Dr. Guyle Donham of Comanche, Dr. Jose Vega, Oncologist and Dr. Tommie Farrell, Palliative Care of Hendricks Cancer Center, Abilene, Texas. A sincere thank you to the nurses and CNAs of Care Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, Early, Texas and the nurses, doctors and CNAs of the Hendricks Hospice facility in Abilene. They were truly angels of mercy.
Our thanks to James (Jim) and Margaret Dudley for making the arrangements for Don to receive Last Rites, in accordance with the Episcopal Church and administered by a priest in Abilene. Thank you and love to Conrad and Betty Heede for always checking on us along with Beth Waggoner Fairbrother, who has supported Don and Gala throughout this challenging time. Thank you and love to Gala’s cousin, Michelle Seay Green, for her support and the offer to come help at a moments’ notice. Thank you and love to Don’s nephew, Michael Myers, who called Don numerous times each week to visit and check on Don.
Don admired the work of the Comanche All Pets Alive rescue group in Comanche, Texas. If desired, donations may be mailed to CAPA, 104 Trevino, Comanche, Texas 76442.
Arrangements handled by Heartland Funeral Cremation Services Comanche.
