We've settled the details for Don's Celebration of Life.
Date: April 7th, 2026
Time: 1-7pm
Location: Eagle's Hideaway, 8901 W. 65th St 46278
This is part of Eagle Creek Park. There will be both indoor and outdoor space. The 7PM is a hard cut off so we will have time to clean up.
Food and drink will be provided. We hope all those who loved him will stop by during the time we have the cabin to share stories of Don's life.
***PLEASE BE WARNED: the park rules prohibit ANY alcohol on premises. Anyone who is caught with alcohol while at the memorial will promptly be asked to leave.***
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Sorry to hear of Dons passing. It’s probably been 15 or more years since I’ve seen him.
I didn’t realize until now what an impact he had on me. Countless people I’ve worked with over the years but he’s one I would still think about on a regular basis to this day.
Countless belly laughs and stories we would tell working together. We didn’t always get along, I wasn’t a great employee but we would work hard and get it done when need be.
His memory will live on with me as long as I do. After all these years I still laugh thinking about the stories we told and situations we dealt with. I still tell the people in my life now about the good times I had with my old manager Don.
Rest in peace Big Don 👊
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2022, Plainfield Indianapolis
Stepdaughter/ stepgrandson baby shower
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Brother, if it wasn’t for you I wouldn’t be who I am today. So many stories, so many memories. Thank you for everything you did for me, if it wasnt for you being hard on me, i probably wouldn’t be have been the same geeky kid from Greenwood. Lol ! Love you, and will pass on what you have taught me. Fly high brother.
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Sorry to hear of the passing of Don he will be missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing him. You & your family will be in our thoughts and prayers. Don was a great family friend to me & my family for over forty years we will miss him deeply Yvonne Clarke-Boutwell & family 😢🙏🏽💕💙💔
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Miss you Don. You were a great person and friend. RIP - Gone but not forgotten...
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Don, my heart is heavy, we were more than close friends, we were family. We never lost contact, weather it would be late night text messages or sharing old photos from our younger years. It was like we never aged. When my phone rang on my birthday 10/12/25, I answered all excited because it was Don calling as we never missed each other's birthday. I was shocked when Hershual said , no this is not Don and that he had passed away that morning. I am still grappling with the fact that my friend is gone. Don I will always love our friendship. Missing you always! Hart
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You will be missed so much. I still can’t believe you are gone. I didn’t get to say goodbye. Rip Don. Ps Go Pack Go!! 💚💛
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Donnie Paul was my cousin and we had grown very close over the past few years. We talked weekly for hours. My trips to Indy always consisted of us spend hours talking about our childhood. I will forever miss him. Fly high Cuz!!!!! Love you
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I'm going to miss you so much. Thanksgiving isn't going to be the same,Easter, isn't, all the holidays aren't going to be the same. You would be here for dinner,or I would bring you dinner to Long John Silver's. I'll miss your phone calls on Mother's Day . You always called me. I'll miss all the funny family stories, like the one where Uncle Dave had you help wash and wax his car. In return he promised you a BIG ice cream cone from Dairy Queen. He got you a small cone. Didn't even get you one with SPRINKLES. I remember we went one day and got you a LARGE CONE WITH SPRINKLES!!! We all laughed so hard.... There were so many funny memories, and stories. I could write a book.
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We have a huge family and most of us are not close, but Donnie Paul (I've always called him that) it was weird for me to call him Don and I definitely didn't call him "Big Don" and I were pretty close. He gave great hugs just like Aunt Barb (his mom). I will miss him so very much and I can't fathom that there will basically be no kind of closure until his next birthday 😢 I respect the fact that he didn't want a funeral, but a celebration of life should be held sooner than April 7, of next year, my heart was already broken from his unexpected passing and then to hear that we are not honoring his life until then is devastating to me!
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My mom and I lived with Barbara and Jim Hopper for a little while when I was pretty small, maybe 3 or 4. My first memory of Donnie Paul was one night an argument was going on and I was scared. He held me really tight and told me - not to cry, he would keep me safe, just go to sleep, everything was going to be fine in the morning. He was right and he was a great older cousin. Does anyone know whatever happened to my brother John? I think it's been more than 15 years since I've heard anything from him.
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I love this cover photo of Donnie Paul. I remember him well in this era. I can still hear him singing When Doves Cry - really, the entire Purple Rain album! I was a big fan of him and looked up to him. He was four years older than me and he was always so good to me. Even before he could grow a mustache, he would wear a button that said Proud to be Black and he was entirely convinced that he was. He only ever had eyes for beautiful black women and I know that he loved Ms. Catrina Boone with all of his heart.
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