Donald McFerrin Grisham Tribute

Donald (Don) McFerrin Grisham

Nickname: Mac

Place of Birth: Altheimer, AR

Resided in:  Garland, TX

Don had a long battle with a heart condition that started when he was a child.  He suffered a light stroke in 2003 that didn’t cause additional symptoms, but his energy was never the same.  He was taking medications for his heart and unfortunately they can cause damage to the kidneys and that’s what happened in the end, his kidney’s failed.  Due to heart trouble he was not a candidate for any intervention for his kidneys.

Don had a fulfilling career as a Land Surveyor and Civil Engineer. Articles that Don wrote were published in National Publications which included; "The Surveyor and The Information Highway" - March/April 1993 and "Designing for the First Flush" - About the North Irving Transit Center, Irving Texas - Civil Engineering Magazine - November 1995.

Don taught surveying classes for Job Corps in 1963. Was a Panel Member of Urban Land Institute, Land Development Symposium, 1968.  Was a Charter Member of American Planning Association, 1978.  Don was accepted into MENSA, 1988. He wrote detention design guidelines for Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection, 1990.  State representative for CPESC (Certified Professional Erosion and Sediment Control) program, 1999-2007.  Had developed software programs for the Surveying and Engineering profession as an ongoing endeavor since 1968.  

Don loved children and loved spending time with his family. He loved collecting art, traveling and had earlier interest in sports cars, luxury cars and motorcycles.

Proceeded in death:  Theodore Vernon Grisham (Father), Muda Morris-Grisham (Mother) and Juanita Grisham-Bryant (Sister)

Survived by: 

Wife: Linda January-Grisham

Children by Marriage: Misti Hutton, Ashley Hanlon 

Biological Daughter: Natalie Aguinaga (Daughter) and Rogelio (Roy) Aguinaga (Son-in-law) of Texas

Biological Sons: Larry Dean Grisham of Virginia and Don McFerrin Grisham Jr. of Texas.

Sibiling: Vernon Grisham (Brother) and Helen Grisham (Sister-n-Law) of North Carolina.

Grand Children by Marriage: Zoe Hutton, Ariel Hutton, Ayden Hutton, Aiyana Cue

Biological Grand Children: Elisa Aguinaga and Roger Aguinaga

Nephews by Marriage that he raised as sons: Mark Freshour and Justin Freshour

Nephew by Marriage: Larry Stephen Rogers

Nephews: Calvin Martin "Marty" Grisham of Virginia, Chet "Grady" Grisham of Texas.

Neices by Marriage: Amanda Nicole Wisdom and April Marie Mandarich

Grand Nieces by Marriage: Alyssa Wisdom, Kaitlyn Mandarich

Grand Nephews by Marriage: Kyle Mandarich, Jonathan Rogers-Opuszenski

Sister-in-law: Eva Rogers

Brother-in-law: John January

Father-in-law: Melvin January and wife Mary January

Mother-in-law: Hazel Gaskey and husband Bob Gaskey