The Life of DONALD MORTON MAFFETT
Donld M. Maffett, age 85, a resident of Edgewater Retirement Community, passed away from pancreatic cancer on December 27, 2012.
Don was born in Des Moines on January 15, 1927, the only child of George and Gladys Maffett. He grew up in Boone, IA, and after graduation from high school, Don enlisted in the Navy. He served on a destroyer in the Pacific during WWII. After being discharged, Don attended Boone Junior College. While at Boone JC, he and three other golfers played and won the National Junior College Golf Tournament in Kansas City. After graduating from Boone JC, he attended and graduated from Simpson College with a degree in business. Don worked a couple of years for Mid-Continent Airlines (later to become Braniff). Then, for 37 years, he worked as a purchasing agent for Bankers Life, which later became the Principal Financial Group.
Don married Betty (Borthwick) in 1950 in Indianola, where they lived for a year and a half. They moved to the Highland Park area of Des Moines for five years before moving to Urbandale. They lived in Urbandale for 42 years where they raised their three children, Susan, Mark, and Gary. Later, they moved to Johnston for nine years. A final move was made to Edgewater Retirement Community in 2009.
Besides golf, Don enjoyed 18 winters in Mesa, Arizona, along with camping, fishing, ping-pong, cribbage, traveling and attending Elderhostels. He and Betty are charter members of Aldersgate United Methodist Church. Another pursuit was duplicate bridge, where Don and Betty became Life Masters.
Don is survived by his wife of 62 years, Betty; his children, Susan (Tim) Perrizo of Delavan, MN, Mark (Becky) of Ankeny, IA, and Gary (Sheila) of Brookings, SD; six grandchildren; six step-grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; one step-great-grandchild; three sisters-in-law; two brothers-in-law, and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by parents, aunts, uncles, and one brother-in-law.
A Celebration of Life service will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, January 12, 2013 at Aldersgate United Methodist Church, with visitation before the service starting at 9:30 a.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Aldersgate United Methodist Church, Wesley Life Hospice, or Edgewater Good Samaritan Fund.
The family would like to thank the nursing staff at Aster Cottage and the Wesley Life Hospice staff for their care and healing.