A Celebration of Life for Donald Eugene Shankles, age 93, will be 2:30 PM Friday, January 30, 2026, at Grace Methodist Church in Ruston, LA. Officiating the service will be Pastor Pete Mace. Interment will follow in Sharon Cemetery in Dubach, LA under the direction of Kilpatrick Funeral Homes in Ruston, LA.
A visitation will be 1:00 PM until service time Friday, January 30th in the sanctuary at Grace Methodist Church, 3401 N. Trenton Street, Ruston, LA.
Don was born on October 21, 1932, in Hodge, LA and passed away January 21, 2026, in Ruston, LA. He was a very talented and intelligent man. As a youth he had magician shows, sang in minstrel shows, member of bow and arrow club, and was a cheerleader for his high school. He graduated from Jonesboro-Hodge High School; attended LSU his freshman year; and graduated from Louisiana Tech University in business. He loved all sports and watched with enthusiasm along with all his in-laws!
Don was in ROTC at Louisiana Tech University; became 2nd Lieutenant and joined the Air Force following graduation. While at Reece Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas he was trained as a bomber pilot. He found his way closer to home at Barksdale Air Force base where he became a Captain in the Reserve. Following honorable discharge in 1958, Don visited Sharon Baptist Church and met his future wife, Mary Lillian Scriber and they married in November of 1958.
Don’s love of horticulture, started as a young man with his dad’s Feed and Seed store business in Jonesboro, LA. This became his lifelong adventure along with many different businesses. This included he and Mary moving to California to work in packing and shipping fresh flowers to Louisiana florists. During this time, he became a father and Sherri was born. Jonesboro was attractive as his home, so back to Jonesboro to establish Don’s Potting Soil Company with his Dad. In 1965, with another daughter Donna, they returned to California and opened the flower packing and shipping business in Redwood City, California for florists, along with his Uncle Charlie.
The next several years, in California, were delightful and engaging in all respects; but it was not home. In 1973, they moved back to Louisiana to permanently own Don’s Potting Soil Company which would be relocated to Dubach, LA. The family made their home in Ruston LA. Other businesses involved mushrooms, dried bait, and forest land.
All during these years, Don and Mary were active in the local church and having special responsibilities, which was to service God and others. In Ruston, it has always been Grace Methodist Church, where they devoted time, money, love for friends, pastors and staff.
Don loved family, friends, and acquaintances. He was a true talker and joker, even when he would meet people on the street, or in restaurants, if only a few words. Don always greeted you with a smile on his face and a brightness in his eyes.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Guy and Lexie Shankles; sisters; Maxine Shankles Hughes and Joy Shankles Haile; brothers-in-law, George “Billy” Wyatt; J. Edward Hughes; George “Bub” Haile; Bobby M. Scriber; sisters-in-law, Janice T. Scriber and Shirley Shankles.
Don is survived by his wife of 67 years, Mary Lillian Scriber Shankles; daughters, Sherri L. Shankles Crawford (Doug), Ruston, LA and Donna M. Shankles Westman (Gary) Colleyville, TX; sister, Betty Jean Wyatt, Jonesboro, LA; brother, Jerry D. Shankles, Jonesboro, LA. His grandchildren, Dr. Stanley D. Crawford (Paige) Choudrant, LA; Carmen L. Crawford Johnson (Jereme) Ruston, LA; Alexa M. Crawford McGraw (Cameron) Brentwood, TN; Alex A. Westman (Cecilia) Oceanside, CA, Karley K. Westman Smith (Spencer) Benbrook, TX; brothers-in-law, George “Billy” Scriber (LouAnn) Ruston, LA; Don E. Scriber (Suzanne) Shreveport, LA; W.A. Scriber (Kathy) Lisbon, LA; Charles R. Scriber (Kathye) Ruston, LA; Glenn A. Scriber (Rachel) Ruston, LA; Larry G. Scriber (Pam) Lisbon, LA; sisters-in-law: F. Ann Lary (Ed) Ruston, LA; Debbie Scriber, Lisbon, LA: eleven great grandchildren with two on the way; numerous, extended family of nieces, nephews, cousins and a host of friends.
Pallbearers will be Doug Crawford, Gary Westman, Ed Lary, Charles Scriber, Don Scriber, George Scriber, Glenn Scriber, Larry Scriber, and W. A. Scriber.
The family would like to thank Inetta for all her care, thoughtfulness, and concern for dad and mom over the last few months. Special thanks to the staff at The Princeton Place for their care and concern during the last few weeks Don was there.
Memorials may be made to Grace Methodist Church, 3401 N. Trenton, Ruston, LA; Sharon Baptist Church, 2769 Hwy 152, Dubach, LA 71235; or the donor’s choice.
