Donald C. Tarpley went to be with his Lord Monday, September 21, 2015, after a valiant battle with cancer since February 2014.
Don was born January 29, 1947 in Nashville, Tennessee to J.D. and Mary (Vance) Tarpley. Don married his wife Deborah (Cave) Tarpley on January 9, 1981 in Plano, Texas.
Don attended school in Pompano Beach, Florida and Lebanon, Tennessee where he graduated in 1965. His military service was in the United States Air Force Reserves in Denver, Colorado. After serving in the military, he worked with the radio communications industry in Nashville, Jackson and Chattanooga, Tennessee. He was then offered a position with Texas Instruments and moved to Texas in 1978. In 1986, Don started his company, High Tech Sales, Inc., out of his garage in Plano, Texas and eventually opened an office in Plano. The company was a highly successful business and one of Don’s proudest career accomplishments. He sold the business and retired in 2001. Later, he worked at the Lowe’s store in McKinney, Texas.
Don loved to play golf and spend time with friends and family. He served many years volunteering with church committees and leadership positions, including Central Baptist (Plano, Texas), Friendship Baptist (Fairview, Texas), White Bluff Chapel (Whitney, Texas) and Crosspoint Church (McKinney, Texas).
Don is survived by his wife of 34 years, Deborah (Cave) Tarpley; children, Greg Tarpley (Diana) of Holly Springs, North Carolina, Kevin Tarpley of Nashville, Tennessee, Bridgett Leonard of Nashville, Tennessee, Cody Tarpley of Los Angeles, California, Bryan Williams (Shannon) of Ouray, Colorado and Stephen Williams (Krissie) of Allen, Texas. Don is also survived by eight grandchildren, Joey Vick of Nashville, Tennessee, Brylee Perry of Dickson, Tennessee, Hannah and Parker Tarpley of Holly Springs, North Carolina, Jenna Williams and Jordan Jasien of Ouray, Colorado, Kyra and Nolan Williams of Allen, Texas. Additional survivors are his brother, Daniel James Tarpley of Lebanon, Tennessee; many loving aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews in Texas and Tennessee. In addition, he is survived by his dear mother-in-law, Ava Myrick Cave; sisters and brothers-in-law, Sherry Cave-Schlager, Lavon and Bentley Fisher, Rebecca and Paul Tomberlin; plus a host of caring, supportive friends.
Don was preceded in death by his parents and infant sister, Kathy Lynn Tarpley.
A visitation will be held at Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Funeral Home in Allen, Texas on Wednesday, September 23, 2015 from 7:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. The funeral service will be held at Friendship Baptist Church in Fairview, Texas on Thursday, September 24, 2015 at 2:00 p.m., with burial following at Blue Ridge Cemetery, in Blue Ridge, Texas. Officiating will be Pastors Mark Turman and Roland Burnett. A memorial service will be held in Tennessee at a later date.
We would like to express appreciation to all of our family and friends during this difficult time. Special thanks to Crosspoint Church, ABF Family, Dr. Khan and staff at Rena Tarbet Cancer Center, Dr. Laura B. Novasad, Baylor Hospital McKinney, MD Anderson and VNA Hospice. A special thank you to the co-workers at Amica Insurance in Frisco, and Lowe’s of McKinney, Texas. You have all been a part of our lives for which we are eternally grateful.