Donald Eugene Hyer

Donald Eugene Hyer, 94, passed away peacefully on Jan. 27, 2020, at the Santa Cruz Regional Hospital in Green Valley, Arizona, with family by his side.

Don was born in Eaton, Indiana, in 1925 and was the youngest son of Ralph Earl and Millie Ethel Hyer. Don served in the U.S. Air Force during WWII as a flight navigator. After his discharge from the service in 1945, he resumed his studies at Indiana University where he met Elvera Louise (Tootie) Bittner. Don and Tootie were married in 1947 in Richmond, Indiana. After graduation, Don began a long and successful career with the Texas Oil Company (Texaco) in 1952. He retired from Texaco after 36 years having progressed through various geological and managerial positions with the company at various locations in Texas, Louisiana, New York and Alberta.

In 1988, Don and Tootie moved to Whitefish into their newly built retirement home. Don was involved in the neighborhood development which became Suncrest. He and his partners also began plans to develop a new golf course on the adjacent land which they later sold to the developers of Iron Horse. In 1997, Don and Tootie moved to Green Valley, Arizona where they celebrated 70 years of marriage before Tootie passed away in 2017.

Don is succeeded by his four children, Ronald Mark Hyer of Herndon Virginia, Ann Louise Canet of Green Valley, Arizona, Linda Jane McFarland of St Augustine, Florida, Gary Wayne Hyer of Whitefish, Montana, 12 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. The family is planning a private Interment of Ashes Ceremony at Desert Hills Lutheran Church Columbarium in Green Valley.