Donald L. "Don" Jennings

Donald L. "Don" Jennings, 81, was born September 27, 1938 in San Diego, California, and passed away Saturday, February 29, 2020 in Tulsa after bravely battling cancers since 2005, and more recently Parkinson's and related illnesses. Don spent his youth in San Diego, and joined the U.S. Marine Corps in 1955 at the end of his teens. He left the Marine Corps in 1967, and during his 11-1/2 years of service, his tours of duty included the U.S., Cuba, Puerto Rico, and Japan. Don received aircraft maintenance training courses for Aircraft Mechanic and Aircraft Jet Engine Mechanic, and served mostly in those duties. That training and experience became a major direction for his civilian career later. Don also went to Marine Recruiting School in 1965 and was proud of his duty with the Marine Corps Exhibit at the New York World's Fair in 1965 before serving as Marine recruiter in Orange, New Jersey. Don was motivated to move to Tulsa in 1976 with expectations of joining American Airlines during expansion of its aircraft maintenance. He was hired in 1977 and had a rewarding career in jet engine maintenance for 26 years before retirement in early 2004. Don loved to travel with his partner and husband Jim. During their four-decades together, their favorite vacation destinations were states on both coasts, but especially to California. Don also found joy in being outdoors in Tulsa, working in the yard surrounded by Mother Nature. He became an avid bicyclist in his early 50's. After retirement he devoted more time to bicycling and rode thousands of miles before stopping in his late 70's due to health constraints. Don was a very organized person and had a sense of inner strength, confidence, and direction. He regularly made donations for the battle against cancer and to organizations who provide for those in the Tulsa community who are food-challenged. Don was preceded in death by his parents, Rupert and Clara Jennings, his brother Raymond, and his sister Beverly. He is survived by his lifelong partner and husband of 42 years, James "Jim" Bryant, Jr. of Tulsa. He is also survived by niece Patricia Reese and nephew Theodore Jennings, both of California. Don had a difficult childhood, and he greatly admired and appreciated Jim's family unit. He loved his grandmother. He enjoyed family gatherings at Jim's parents, which also included the family of Jim's brother Bob, his wife Linda, and their four sons, Zac, Greg, Jeff, and Jacob, who are also survivors of Don. Don's funeral services are under the direction of Moore Funeral Home-Southlawn in Tulsa. His services will be on Friday, March 6, at 10:00 a.m. at the Memorial Park Cemetery Chapel in Tulsa. Interment will be at 1:00 p.m. Friday at Memorial Park Cemetery in Muskogee, Oklahoma Moore's Southlawn 918-663-2233

Donald L. "Don" Jennings

September 27, 1938 - February 29, 2020