Shirley Don Woolman

Shirley "Don" Woolman passed away peacefully at his home in Aztec, New Mexico, on August 28, 2026, where he had made his home and was able to spend his final years surrounded by family and the familiar things he loved.

Born in Farmington, New Mexico, Don lived a life that could never be summed up by a simple list of dates, jobs, or places. He was a husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, great-great-grandfather, foster father, United States Marine, oilfield worker, fisherman, gardener, and a man who accumulated a lifetime of stories-although he didn't always tell the same stories to everyone.

Family was a significant part of Don's life. He and his wife, Linda, raised their children and, over the years, opened their home to approximately 15 foster children as well. Their home was filled with children, grandchildren, and eventually generations of family who each came to know their own version of Dad and Papa.

Don spent most of his working life in the oil field, working hard to provide for his family. But the oil field was only one chapter in his working life. He told stories about his younger years working on the railroad and about the many other jobs and experiences he had along the way. Don wasn't a man who said a lot unless you asked, and even then, you never quite knew which story you were going to get. One person might know a part of his life that someone else had never heard. Everyone seemed to have a different piece of his history because he never told everyone everything.

He proudly served in the United States Marine Corps, another important chapter in a life filled with experiences and stories.

Don had a love for history and was always curious about the places around him. Anyone who traveled with him knew there was almost always a "short cut." Whether that short cut actually got you there any faster was another matter. Along the way, there was a good chance the trip would include a stop at a historical marker-or, as he called them, a "Hysterical Marker." He was always looking at the ground and around the places he visited, searching for pottery or anything else that might hold a piece of history.

He also loved the outdoors. Don planted a garden every year, and he didn't just plant a few tomatoes in the backyard. His gardens were huge, with perfect rows that showed the care he put into them. One year, his garden was even featured in the newspaper as one of the best around.

Fishing was another love of his life. He spent many nights on the houseboat fishing with Papa, making the kind of memories that become family stories long after the fishing poles have been put away.

Don liked his food HOT. A jalapeño went with just about everything he ate. Even after he was placed on a feeding tube, he never stopped asking for a green chili cheese burger. His circumstances may have changed, but apparently his appetite for the things he loved did not.

At home, you could find him watching Westerns, football, or the Weather Channel. He enjoyed sitting down for a game of chess, quoted nursery rhymes to the kids, and was also known to settle into his chair for one of his "power snoozes"-never just a nap.

These ordinary things became some of the most memorable things about him. They are the pieces of Dad and Papa that his family will recognize immediately and the things they will find themselves talking about for years to come.

Don was preceded in death by his wife, Linda Woolman; daughters, Lori Sam and Tracy Lynn Woolman; father, Shirley Woolman; mother, Neva Woolman; brother, Neal Woolman; sister, Ellen Woolman; and grand daughter Laura Stoumbaugh.

He is survived by his children: Dashelle Ricord, Echo Favaloro, Kris Woolman, Montana Woolman, Don Woolman, Gentry Stoumbaugh, Glenda Clark; his foster daughter, Stephanie Lantz; as well as 19 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren.

The numbers tell only part of the story.Don's family extended far beyond a traditional family tree. Through his children, the children he and Linda fostered, and the generations that followed, his life became intertwined with the lives of many people.

 Don's family is deeply grateful to everyone who helped care for him and made it possible for him to remain at home during his final chapter. We especially thank his daughter, Echo, whose care allowed Dad to continue living at home on her property, as well as Guardian Angel Home Health Care, the VA, Holli, Stephanie, and the many others who gave their time, kindness, care, and support. It truly took a village, and our family will never forget those who were there for him. 

We also want to thank everyone who prayed for Dad and for our family throughout this journey. Your prayers, calls, messages, visits, and support meant more than you may ever know and helped carry our family through some very difficult days.

Perhaps no one person knows Don's entire story. Each person who knew him carries a different piece-a railroad story, an oilfield memory, a nursery rhyme, a fishing trip, a garden row, a game of chess, a jalapeño with dinner, a long drive on one of his "short cuts," a stop at a "Hysterical Marker," or the familiar sight of him taking a power snooze in his chair.

Put all of those pieces together, and they begin to tell the story of Shirley "Don" Woolman.

He will be deeply missed, lovingly remembered, and talked about for generations to come.

 A celebration of Don's life will be held on October 10, 2026, with the location to be announced. We invite everyone who knew and loved Don to join us as we celebrate his life-and if you have a story about him, please bring it with you. After all, each of us holds a different piece of his story, and we would love to hear yours.