Donald Stiles

Donald Dave Stiles
April 20, 1939 - Jan. 24, 2016
Donald Dave Stiles, 76, of Farmington, passed away on Sunday, Jan. 24, 2016, after a brief illness. Don was born April 20, 1939, in Farmington, to David Woodward and Jane Smith Stiles. During his early years, he lived on the Navajo Reservation, where his family traded with the Navajo people at trading posts, including Star Lake, Stoney Butte, Nazlini, Mexican Water and Ganado. When Don was 17, the Stiles family moved to Aztec, where Don graduated in 1957. He married in 1960. To this union were born daughters Dona, Diana and Michelle. The family lived at San Juan River Plant in Kirtland, where Don worked for El Paso Natural Gas Company. In October of 1970, Don married the love of his life, Pamela Ann Dean. The two were inseparable. Together they managed Thunderbird Distributing in Farmington, and Yucca Jewelry in Gallup. Later, Don went to work for the City of Farmington, where he retired from his position as superintendent of the City of Farmington's Hydro Electric Plant Pam worked for Jesco, Quadco and Life Care during these years. After retiring, Don and Pam became ebay merchants, selling Navajo and Zuni jewelry to customers around the world. For fun, Don and Pam enjoyed restoring antique cars and attending car shows, collecting antiques and most recently prospecting for gold in the Arizona desert. Don had deep roots in the San Juan County area. His grandfather, Dave Stiles, served as mayor of Farmington in the 1940s, and his great-grandfather, Frank Allen, brought motion pictures to San Juan County when he opened the Allen Opera House in 1912. Don will always be remembered for his quick wit and sweet nature - he always came with a smile and left you with a smile. He will be greatly missed by all.
Don is preceded in death by his wife of 44 years, Pamela Ann Dean Stiles and his father, David Woodrow Stiles. He is survived by his mother, Jane Smith Stiles; sister, Ann Stiles Riddle (Jack); brother, Bill Stiles (Gail); brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Warren and Shirley "Sug" McNall and their family, Toni Hill (Vern), Craig MacCready (Caitlyn) and Carli MacCready (Lee); daughters, Dona Lynch (Curtis), Di McClellan (Kelly) and Michelle Winters (Steve); grandchildren, Nicole Lynch, Kristen Lynch , Nicholas Lynch, Seth Marquez (Lyndi), Dustin Winters, Jared Winters, Cole Winters (Sarah) and Jenilee Haney (Kyle); great-grandchildren, Mason Lynch, Kenadi Woods, Jessa Roberts, Grady Roberts, Deacon Marquez; and his new baby sister, who will arrive in April, Kale Winters, Chesney Winters, Jude Winters, Kai Duncan, Maili Duncan, Drue Haney and Sunny Haney; numerous nieces and nephews, who he dearly loved.
A celebration of Don and Pam's lives will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 28, at First Baptist Church of Bloomfield, 200 W. Sycamore Ave.
Don's care was entrusted to Alternative Choice Burial and Cremation, 804 N. Dustin Ave. in Farmington, 505-325-9611. Those who wish to express their condolences may do so at serenityandcompany.com.