Don was a man who loved God, people and living life. He seldom met a stranger without learning their name, hometown and something that was important to them. Don was born in Texarkana, TX, on November 1, 1941 to Louis and Helen Houteling Caillouet. His brother Joe and sisters Peggy and Ellen Ann completed the family. The family moved around a lot, following their father’s jobs in construction. Don went to school in Texico, New Mexico, and graduated high school there. He moved to Los Angeles, CA, to attend college at Long Beach City College where he learned the electrical trade. He had just graduated when he received a letter from President Johnson inviting him to become a member of the U.S. Army. He was drafted on his 24th birthday. Don enjoyed the Army and remained in the guard for 10 years, being discharged with the rank of Staff Sgt. After working in the electrical trade for a while, Don discovered that he was good at selling, so he began a successful career selling water wells and pumps for industrial, municipal, irrigation and some domestic wells. He began working for Henkle Drilling in Garden City, KS, in 1989, and worked there until moving to Lawrence in 2001 to work for Layne-Christenson in Kansas City. During these working years, Don was a member of the Kansas Ground Water Association, holding several positions and eventually being named President of the Board. During that time, he was instrumental in establishing the current licensing and CEU legislation enacted in Kansas. He also held a Texas Drilling License and master drilling and master installer licenses. In 2013, Don was awarded special recognition from the Missouri Water Conference for outstanding work and support.
Midway through his life, Don accepted Jesus Christ and began a life of helping others. He was a member of First United Methodist Church in Lawrence and also volunteered with Crown Ministries as a financial counselor, receiving the Crowning Achievement Award in 2008. Don cared about each person he worked with and felt excitement for the successes or gave encouragement if the going got tough.
Don was a devoted family man. In 1997 he was organizing a trip with some singles in Southwest Kansas. He needed more transportation so when he met a blonde widow with a Suburban, he persuaded her to come along and bring her car. That was his wife, Coralee Ann Marshall Caillouet, better known as Corky. There are many stories about their courtship and marriage, but suffice it to say that they have been married for almost 19 years and it has been glorious. He enjoyed his children and grandchildren: Dawn Smith, husband Randy and girls Whitney and Erica; Brian Brown and girls, Samantha and Balee; Donnie Caillouet; JaQué Singleton and husband, Stu; Marylee Ramsay; Keri Griffin and children, Devon, wife Rhyan (parents of Don’s first great-grandson, Raylan, born March 4, 2016), Alycia, Marshall and Cora. He is also survived by his sister Peggy; brothers-in-law George Judah and John Marshall and his wife, Ronda, and several nephews and nieces.
Don liked to dance, fish, build and fly RC Airplanes, and watch “his” squirrels. He also enjoyed singing, and directed a church choir at one time. Don was an avid reader who knew the Bible forward and backward. It was spending time with others that he enjoyed the most. Memorials made in his name to the First United Methodist Church will be given to local missions, as Don believed that service was an essential part of Christ’s plan, and there is much need. Memorials may also be made in Don’s name to a charity of the donor’s choice. Funeral services will be held on April 2, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church, 946 Vermont St, Lawrence. Don had a special affinity with Marisco’s Restaurant and their staff. Please join the family there at 4821 W 6th Street from 1:30 to 3:30 for a dessert buffet and fellowship to celebrate Don’s life one more time, shouting “Amen” all the way.
Inurnment will be held at the Stanton County Cemetery in Johnson, Kansas on Saturday, July 16, 2016 at 10:00 AM with military rites conducted by Johnson VFW Post #3684. Local arrangements are in care of Garnand Funeral Home, PO Box 715, Johnson, Kansas 67855.