Donald Lee Dees passed away Sunday, January 28, 2024.  He was born on May 14, 1947 to Odus C. Dees and Claudine M. (McCormack) Dees at Southwestern hospital Lawton, Ok.  When Don was in the hospital, there came a big spring rain and Odus had to swim a horse across Cache creek to see him.  When Don was 3 years old, he was playing in his yard, and came up missing.  They found his little wagon tracks and followed them more than a mile away to his Grandma and Grandpa Dees's house.  Don always had little pets. He had a pet rabbit, owls, and chickens.  He loved little pets, but his love for his dad topped it all.  His dad, Odus, was his hero. Wherever Odus was, that's where Don wanted to be. When he was 6 years old, Odus had a bunch of cows that had screw worms.  They had a big horse named Patches. Odus would put Don's tiny saddle on Patches, and he would attach the smear 62 dope with a rope to the little saddle horn. They'd go out and pasture rope the cows.  Don had to grab the dope, jump off the big tall horse, and take that dope to his dad to doctor cows.  This was his first cowboy'n job.

As a kid, he spent most of his time at an old arena that they built behind his place.  Anytime a neighbor's bull got out, it got bucked by Don and Larry Jo. Larry Jo McCormick was more like a brother than a cousin. They had lots of fun roping and riding in that old arena.  It basically raised them.  Don started riding bulls at different rodeos when he was young.

Odus told Don when he got hurt and not IF but WHEN Don got hurt, Odus would pay for it, BUT he will start by selling off Don's cows first.  The more Don thought about THAT,  he decided he would quit riding bulls. His dad was a good man and very wise.  Don took Mary Jean with him to lots of Rodeos. It was him, Mary Jean, & Doug Hill.

Don & Doug Hill were going to put a rodeo company together, but Doug got killed in Vietnam in 1967.  Don decided to go on with their dream and do this.  Doug was the best friend he ever had until Melvin came around. Melvin was the wild one.  Don first started buying bulls at the sale barns.  I think you know the rest…

Don was the Vice President of Lawton FFA and Junior Master Farmer.  He showed Hereford cattle.  He drove the school bus while he was in High School and college.  He baled and hauled hay on the reservation for 12 hours a day, $10 a day, for six days a week.  He saved enough money to buy his first pickup. He graduated Lawton High in 1965 and attended 3 semesters at Cameron A&M College, Lawton OK.  He married his best friend and the love of his life, Mary Jean McCune, on March 30, 1967.  They lived East of Lawton on E Gore.  Jeff was born August 1968, Dusty was born May 1970, Darla was born August 1971, and Jamie was born May 1974.  He worked on their family dairy, was an independent hay hauler, traded cattle, and a rodeo stock contractor.  Don & Mary Jean chose to raise their children on 160 acres Southeast of Sterling and made this their home place.  In the late 60's, early 70's, Don started putting together bulls & horses to put on rodeos. He first started buying bulls at the sale barns before he started raising them. This became the Rafter D Rodeo Co.  Don had a love for a GOOD horse and all cows.  His favorite time to ride a horse was in the early morning dew. There was something real special about riding just before daybreak and nothing more peaceful. Don was always proud of the Rafter D brand that goes back many generations. This brand has been passed on to his kids, grandkids, and great grandkids.  The Cowboy way of life was something Don instilled in all of us.

His legacy was his salvation with God, his marriage to Mary Jean of 57 years, his kids, grandbabies, and his hard work ethic that never gave up.   He is survived by his wife, of the home; four children and their spouses, Jeff and Melodye Dees, Elgin, Oklahoma, Dustine "Dusty" and Joe Neely, Ada, Oklahoma, Darla and Shawn Nunley, Sterling, Oklahoma and Jaime and Regina Dees, Sterling; 11 grandchildren and their spouses, Mikayla and Zac Howell, Jakob and Sydney Dees, Tyler and Mary Neely, Zachary and Chase Neely, Deesa Neely, Dara and Cole Rogers, Paige Nunley, Jadyn Nunley, Emma Nunley, Chauk Dees and Bandee Dees; one great grandson, Hayze Rogers; two brothers, Jerry Dees and Danny Dees and his wife Jo Ann.

His parents preceded him in death.

Service, 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, January, 31, 2024, Rafter D Arena, 5 miles east of Sterling on Highway 17 to County Line Road then south ¾ mile. Burial to follow at Letitia Cemetery.  The family will greet friends from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm Tuesday at the funeral home.