September 20, 1940 — December 1, 2024
Funeral service for Donald Wright Fausett, age 84 of Livingston, Montana will be held at 2:00 P.M. on December 5, 2024 at Myra Wilson Chapel at the Sulphur Springs City Cemetery. Interment will follow at Restlawn Memorial Park. There will be no formal visitation. Donald Wright Fausett died peacefully at home with his daughter in Montana on December 1, 2024, after a nine-month battle against heart failure.
Don was born on September 20th, 1940, in Sulphur Springs, Texas, to Marlin Blanton Fausett and Dorsey Wright Fausett at her parents’ home. Dr. Stevens attended the birth for a fee of $25.00. His mother said he was worth every cent, and we agree.
Don grew up in Bandera, Texas, and other towns, as Marlin, aka “He Who”, sought to find good places to work after serving in WWII. The family, which had grown to include Don’s little sister Susan, landed in Garland, Texas, where Don graduated with the class of 1958. He received both his BA and MA in Math from the University of Texas at Arlington. With war once again escalating, he worked for a time at Sun Oil before enlisting in the Army. Around this time he married Dolores Ann Barnes.
You could say that math saved Don’s life. While in his basic training to be a mechanic, he was called outside by a senior officer who asked him if he’d like to train to be a mechanic or move into the chemical research division. The officer told Don that not only did he have the highest math score of anyone in his cohort, but he had the highest math score they had ever seen. So, rather than being shipped overseas, Don was kept stateside to help with research and development. Don and Dolores welcomed their son, Benjamin Wright Fausett, in 1965, while still on base in Maryland.
After his honorable discharge, Don returned to Garland for a few years, where daughter Savannah joined the family. Together they packed up to follow Don’s dream of living in the West. He was accepted into the University of Wyoming’s Ph.D. program in Mathematics in Laramie, Wyoming, in 1970. Through those years Don became a force, not only in math, but also in running. We remember him heading out in the dark in the early mornings before he went to campus and coming back with icicles on his beard. In sum—note this!—Don ran 34 marathons. This would go on to include the Pikes Peak marathon two times and ultramarathon once; the Boston marathon twice; and the Leadville, Colorado, burro races.
In 1974, Don accepted his first teaching position as a math professor at the prestigious Colorado School of Mines. He loved teaching there and living in Colorado, but returned to Laramie to teach at the University of Wyoming and conduct research for the Laramie Energy Technology Center in 1978. There he met Laurene Van Camp. The two brilliant math minds were married in the mid-80s and moved to Melbourne, Florida, for their next chapter teaching at the Florida Institute of Technology (F.I.T.).
Through their years together, Don and Laurie were instrumental in the foundations of Neural Network programing. They traveled many places internationally meeting, presenting their work at conferences, and mentoring students.
In addition to learning how to scuba dive, the couple felt the call for something higher. As Don said, when they went to the Orthodox Church, it was the only one that told them, “God is ineffable.” Don and Laurie both became baptized into the Orthodox Church, and it became a pivotal presence in their lives. Don learned Greek in order to read the Bible in its truest form. He became tonsured and proudly wore a cassock to take part in the services. In retirement, he traveled to St. Athos, in Greece, to spend time at the monastery there.
When Dorsey, “She Who”, turned 80 years old, Don and Laurie moved to Sulphur Springs, Texas, in order to take She Who in with them. Like everywhere they lived, they quickly made friends. Sadly, Laurie died from liver cancer shortly before she might have retired. Don chose to stay in Sulphur Springs because of his many friendships, including a men’s group, Garland high classmates, St. Sava’s Orthodox church, the genealogy society, neighbors, and a book club. Eventually, his heart opened again to Jean Gibson Bell.
Don and Jean spent many good years together. They traveled to his cabin in Centennial, Wyoming, as well as to Iceland; Alaska twice; Louisville, Kentucky; New England; and the Danube. They loved to watch sports together, and never missed the Rangers, Mavericks, and Stars. Jean’s family welcomed Don and made his life especially rich.
Don is survived by Jean Bell and her family, in particular her daughter Carol, who was devoted to Don and his care after his heart attack on February 29, 2024. He is also survived by his beloved dog, Kiki, whom he rescued from a shelter when she was one year old in 2018. Kiki will now live in Montana with Don’s daughter, Savannah, her two dogs, Sam and Zeke, and her partner, Josh Taitelbaum. Don lived in Montana during the last two months of his life, and he and Josh shared a nerdy love of math, music, and sports. Don is survived by his son, Ben (Tammy), who is carrying on the cabin in Centennial. Don is also survived by his sister, Susan Clevenger, and her children, Kim (Sterling) and Damon (Jenny); his step-daughters Beverly Krumpe and Jennifer Gorham (Steve); five grandchildren (Veronica, Amber, Naomi, Annabella, and Landry); and two great-grandchildren (Serenity and Cain).
Donald Wright Fausett will be missed for his sense of humor, love of music, and gentle soul. He was a truly brilliant man who enjoyed meeting people from all walks of life. His faith was strong, and there is no doubt he is shining down on all of us now with deep love.
