Donald Voyles

Donald (Don) Voyles, 68, died on Saturday, March 28, 2015, in Canon City, Colorado.

Born on April 24, 1946 in Elberfeld, Indiana to Clarence Arthur Voyles and Viola Eleanora Mae Underhill, Donald Eugene Voyles lived his first eight years there. After his father’s death in December of 1954, his mother moved to Southern Florida with her five youngest children to be near two of her sisters.

His remaining childhood was spent in Hialeah, Florida where he graduated from Hialeah High School. Don was the fifth of six children born to Clarence and Eleanor and their youngest son.

Shortly after high school, Don served two years in the U.S. Army, based in Alabama during the Vietnam War era.

After a brief first marriage, adventure-seeking Don moved to Colorado. His second wife, Melida Filos, whom he had met in Hialeah, joined him to live in the Rocky Mountains. They had two daughters, who survive: Tereese Filos of Miami, Florida and Antoinette (Mrs. Colin) Tracey of Land o’ Lakes, Florida. Sadly, he had not had the opportunity to meet his only grandchild, one-year-old Kaliana Tracey, before his death.

Don is survived by three brothers and two sisters: Robert (and Janice) Voyles of Pensacola, Florida; Roy (and Julia) Voyles, of Pembroke Pines, Florida; Janice Voyles, of Carson City, Nevada; James (and Penny) Voyles, of Sanbornville, New Hampshire; Margaret (and Michael) Johnson of San Diego, California.

Also left to mourn his passing are 24 nieces and nephews, and 30 grand-nieces and -nephews, many of whom loved spending family reunions at Uncle Donkey’s home out in the country. Don spent the last nearly 20 years of his life ‘living off the grid’ in the rural mountains of Canon City. As his niece, Eva Dill said, “…he lived with more freedom than most of us would dare to attempt. He truly loved the living-off-the-land lifestyle.”

Don was preceded in death by his parents and one nephew, Arthur Len Simpson, son of Janice.

A small, intimate memorial service was performed by Brother Theodore of the Benedictine Fellowship of Saint Laurence at the chapel built on the property where Don was caretaker for many years (before it was sold to the church) on April 8th. Don was cremated in Canon City, and his ashes interred in Miramar National Cemetery in San Diego, California.

Provided by Jim Voyles, brother, HHS Class of 1963