Elmer Donald “Don” Dancer, a resident of Farmersville, Texas, passed from this world on June 3, 2024, at the age of 84. Born on July 18, 1939, in Boswell, Oklahoma, he was the beloved son of Elmer William Dancer and Ada Josephine (Wortham) Dancer.
Don proudly served in the United States Navy on the USS Ticonderoga aircraft carrier from 1957 through 1960. His love for his country was surpassed only by his love and dedication to his family. Don and Delza “Dale” Olean Brown married on July 5, 1960, in Boswell, Oklahoma. Raising their 4 children was a journey filled with countless treasured and memorable moments. In his professional life, Don worked as Plant Manager for Trident Metal Distribution Company in Richardson, Texas. Later, on January 19, 1991, Don and Roberta Elaine Fischbach were married in Plano, Texas, blessing him with 2 additional loving children added to his family.
As a youth, Don spent a lot of time working on his family farm in Boswell, Oklahoma, farming peanuts, cotton, corn, and hay. He was also involved in the FFA as a youth, and graduated from Boswell High School in 1957. He had a life-long love of the outdoors, spending a lot of time hunting, fishing, camping and gardening. Don had a servant’s heart, always willing to help anyone in need without a second thought. He was constantly tinkering with all things mechanical, and took pleasure in his multiple “DIY” home projects. He enjoyed people, traveling, and later in life hosting Christmas in his home each year for all of his children and grand-children.
Don is survived by his 6 children: Terry Don Dancer (Brenda) of Wright City, Oklahoma, Pam Gardner (Kevin) of Avery, Texas, Doug Dancer (Vicki) of Henrietta, Texas, Donna Davis (David) of Caddo Mills, Texas, Misty Groetken (Nick) of Plano, Texas, and Kristi Weston (Shelby) of Edmond Oklahoma; 16 grandchildren: Kortney, Kelsey, Katie, Brian, Kateland, Kaitlin, Cheyenne, Ryan, Cody, Jayce, Adam, Kayla, Grant, Kennedy, Cash and Crue; 22 great-grandchildren: Kaycee, Kynlee, Kaislee, Ledger, Romee, Millie, Aiden, Tripp, Savannah, Huxley, Landon, Avery, Brix, Blayke, Brighton, Bralynn, Birdie (on the way), Ryder, Rory, Scarlet, Beckett, and Elaine; 4 siblings: Darvis Dancer (Carla) of Benington, Oklahoma, Sonny Dancer, of Powderly, Texas, Gayle Hall (Dennis) of Durant, Oklahoma, and Euvon Wages, of Moore, Oklahoma; the mother of his 1st 4 children: Delza Dancer, of Farmersville, Texas; and a host of other family members and friends, who will dearly miss him.
Don was preceded in death by his wife Roberta Elaine Dancer, parents Elmer and Ada Dancer, and 4 siblings: Chloe Jones, Steven Dancer, June Triplett, and Joyce Dancer.
The funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m., Sunday, June 9, 2024. Following the service, a procession will make its way to Ridgeview Memorial Park for a committal service, with military funeral honors.
The family will receive friends during a visitation on Saturday, June 8, from 4:00 pm until 6:00 p.m.
In honor of Don's memory, donations can be made in Don’s name to:
Alzheimer’s Association (https://act.alz.org/donate)
or Cancer Care (https://cancercare.org/donate)