DON EUGENE WYATT
August 3, 1934 - April 1, 2021
Don Wyatt, a longtime resident of Bakersfield passed away April 1 due to several health issues. His mind was strong, but his body was just worn out.
Don was the eldest child of Jewell and Margaret Wyatt. He was born in Vernon, Texas, but he and his parents soon moved to California. They settled in Bakersfield where other family members had made their home.
Don graduated from Bakersfield High School in 1952. Don’s father had been in the dairy business for years, so he naturally grew up knowing about cows. Don started his dairy herd through Future Farmer projects at Bakersfield High. In the same year he was FFA chapter president, won the California Bankers Association Award and was named State Farmer.
Don was on his way to building his GRADE A dairy. He started with a herd of 75 cows consisting of grade Holsteins and registered Guernseys. Don also married his childhood sweetheart Sylvia Bowen in October of 1952. The couple had three girls, Karen, Pamela, and Donna. Their marriage ended in 1969.
Don and his family started retailing their own milk under Wyatt Bros Dairy through a modernization expansion and the addition of a Cash and Carry drive thru facility that sold fresh milk products and an assortment of food items for one stop shopping. Later that year Don made an agreement with local milk distributor, Kirk Ragland to process their milk under the Ragland name for local home deliveries near the dairy which was located on Weedpatch Hwy, southeast of town.
Don worked diligently in maintaining his Guernsey herd. The American Guernsey Cattle Club awarded Don a Life Membership in 1964. This club was organized in 1877 and is now the American Guernsey Association. For many summers Don took his Guernseys on the California fair route. His herd won over 150 blue ribbons Including a grand championship in various stock shows. The route included Bakersfield, Sacramento, the Cow Palace in San Francisco, the Great Western Livestock Show, Del Mar, San Diego, Paso Robles, Victorville, San Fernando, Lancaster, Tulare and Hanford. It was a lot of miles and a lot of hard work, but Don loved his cows. The herd was known as The Golden Crown Guernseys. Despite all of Don’s and hard work and that of his Father Jewell the dairy could not remain viable and was sold in the late 1960s. Don did a little bit of everything after selling the dairy. He drove for Marosa Bros Transportation for several years. He owned and operated Don’s Auto Sales on Union Ave from 1980 until closure in 2002. He started Wyatt Rentals in 1990 which is still in business today. Don also drove a cattle truck for Palla Rosa Trucking while running the car lot. He retired from Palla Rosa with 25 years of service. He knew Livio through the dairy business and greatly admired him.
Don underwent a heart valve replacement in 2009 and had a pacemaker implant in 2018. Both done by Dr. Tommy Lee whom Don was very grateful to for being given 12 more years of life.
Some of dad's favorite things were napping, watching old westerns, just driving around town and stopping at Zingo’s for a cup of coffee. And he loved eating at Woolgrowers, Black Angus, Hodels, and La Colonia. And Dad loved homemade lemon pie, banana pudding, cornbread and beans, AND ICE COLD MILK!
Don is preceded in death by his parents, his younger brother Walter, his beloved daughter Pamela Doyle, his favorite uncle Bud Harris and nephew Brad Orrison. Don was also preceded in death by his second wife Linda. They were married for 36 years.
Don is survived by his daughters Karen Wyatt, Donna Wyatt and son-in-law Bob Jones, sister Peggy Orrison and nephew Mark Orrison (both of Lemoore, Ca), his only granddaughter Michelle Fambrough and husband Eric, their children Wesley, Ella and Sophia, and only grandson Christian Doyle. Don also had two dogs, Peanut and Tiny who were his “buddys”. Don is also survived by many Wyatt and Harris cousins. He is also survived by aunt Beverly Harris.
We would like to thank Dad’s former employee Bob (Car Lot Bob) Griffith for the friendship and support he gave to Dad these many years. We thank Hoffman Hospice for the excellent care our Dad received while in their charge. Thanks also to Angel, Vera, and staff of Emmanuel’s Eldery Care for the great compassion and care given to our Dad in his last days. We also thank our cousin Rhett Wyatt for his help with the rental property issues. He really came through for us.
Dad loved his girls and we loved him. That was what really mattered to him. He will be greatly missed by us and many others.
Graveside services to be held Thursday, April 22, 2021 at 2:00PM Hillcrest Memorial Park in Garden of Memories. Mask required due to Covid-19.