Donald Ray Black

February 7, 2023

Donald Ray Black grew up in Century, Florida where he attended Century Elementary and High schools.

After high school, at age 17 he began working as a roughneck in the oil fields with his older brother Ellie. He worked on various oilfield assignments over the years that carried him all over the U.S. and other parts of the world including the Gulf of Mexico, Nigeria and Russia.

When he wasn’t working in the oilfields, he also worked as a truck driver; a career he truly loved. He long-hauled cargo over-the-road but also ran short trips hauling sand and gravel. He traveled all over the country and even into Canada and Mexico; occasionally partnering with his older brother Glynn, a fellow trucker. Donald traveled hundreds of thousands of miles and knew the highways like the back of his hand. In doing so, he’d also received traffic tickets in nearly all 48 states in the continental United States.

After the passing of his parents, he moved back into his childhood home and lived there the rest of his years. He took great pride in maintaining and improving the house and property. In his later years, he focused on repairing and selling outdoor power equipment. Donald also loved cooking, growing vegetables, shooting guns, and listening to Country Music and Classic Rock.

Donald was a free spirit that lived life on his own terms, with a heart as big as the Earth he’d traveled. He was generous to a fault, often helping family and friends without ever expecting anything in return. He is sorely missed by his friends and family, but he will always be remembered for his generosity, his knack for fixing things, his contagious laughter, and his precarious traveling stories.

He is preceded in death by his parents Ellie and Ida Black and his brother Glynn Black. He is survived by his sister, Linda Davis, his brother, Ellie (Belinda) Black, Jr, his favorite niece, Robin, and a whole semi-truckload of second favorite nieces and nephews, regular and great.

Comments

One Response to “Donald Ray Black”

  1. linda (black) davis on February 8th, 2023 6:45 am

    You always thought I could make it all better. This time I couldn’t.I get off work and it’s
    like my car heads for Century, but you aren’t there.No one is. I know you are peacefully at rest—-no more suffering—-I am thankful for all the years we had—good–
    bad–right or wrong—we were always family. I won’t ever be able to make chicken and
    dressing and not save a pan for you—that was your favorite..I really do miss you…
    Rest in peace my brother—-your sister, Linda

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under Obituaries