Donald Brant Crenshaw III
Donald Brant Crenshaw III left this world on October 22, 2023. Born August 1, 1954, at Baptist Hospital in San Antonio, he was the first child of Donald Crenshaw Jr. and Maerita (Waldrop) Crenshaw, high school sweethearts from Breckenridge, Texas. Donnie, as he was known to family and many friends, lived in San Antonio, Breckenridge, Eliasville, Okemah, Oklahoma and Italy during his youth. The experience of being in these various places helped to create a man who was always curious, questioning and open minded, who rooted for the underdog and acted with exacting ethical standards.
Donnie was a gifted musician, a natural talent. Primarily a pianist, he also played guitar, french horn and more. He was named Best Musician in high school and played in various ensembles as a young man. He was also a writer of both music, poetry and short fiction. Open, curious, questioning, ethical-these traits were prominent in his artistic output.
Donnie graduated from Breckenridge High School in 1972 and attended Texas Tech University briefly. He continued his education throughout his life with intensive independent dedication to many topics but especially music, theology and history.
Donnie worked in retail, and his work took him from Lubbock to Lake Jackson, Galveston, Austin, and back to San Antonio, where he worked for Wittigs Office Interiors for almost 25 years and enjoyed many wonderful friendships there. He retired in 2017. He loved San Antonio for its history and culture, the friends he made there and the possibility of a car-free life. He passed away in his beloved hometown, under the San Antonio blue sky at Baptist Hospital, completing a touching circle of life and death.
Donnie is survived by his sisters, Betsy Crenshaw (Kimberleigh Smith), and Sally Lloyd (Rob); his brother, Cory Crenshaw; his nieces and nephews, Eli Crenshaw Smith, Rachel Young, Rebekah and Aiden Lloyd, and Carly and Devin Crenshaw; many cousins and many close long-term friends who were also chosen family. A memorial service will be held on April 14, 2024, at 2 p.m. at the Oblate Chapel in San Antonio. In lieu of flowers, we suggest donations to the ACLU Texas, Haven for Hope (San Antonio) or a charity of your choosing. Condolences may be made at https://everloved.com/life-of/donald-crenshaw-iii/
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The Breckenridge Texan, a non-profit news outlet serving Breckenridge and Stephens County, Texas, has launched its annual NewsMatch fundraising campaign, running through Dec. 31, 2024.
As a non-profit news outlet, the Breckenridge Texan depends on donations, in addition to ad sales, to fund daily operations, including website costs, freelance writers, and basic office expenses. The organization aims to raise $4,000, which could be tripled to $12,000 through various matching programs, including the NewsMatch program and the Rural Partner Fund, which is supported by several major foundations.
Founded in 2017 by journalists Tony Pilkington and Carla McKeown, the Breckenridge Texan provides daily local news coverage, weekly newsletters, photo galleries, a community calendar, and obituaries. The outlet serves both local residents and people outside the community seeking information about Breckenridge and Stephens County, including potential new residents and businesses. They chose the non-profit structure to maintain local control of news coverage while minimizing the financial burden on the community.
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