Don Winters, of Middleton, Idaho died on Tuesday, May 23 at home. He was 84. He was born on December 12, 1932 in San Francisco, California but his family lived, and he was raised, in Covelo, Mendocino County where his family owned a general store and a cattle ranch. He attended both elementary and high school there. In 1952 Don enlisted in the Marine Corps, as he said, “One step ahead of the draft board.” During his time in the service he was stationed in Naples, Italy and was also on the Marine Corps Rifle Team. After he was discharged with the rank of Staff Sergeant, he attended Santa Rosa Community College, where he met his future wife, Carolyn Martin. Don and Carolyn were married on August 25, 1957 in Petaluma, Sonoma County and they have four children. In 1975 he and the family moved to Fairbanks, Alaska where he and Carolyn lived for the next 26 years. In 2001 they sold their home in Fairbanks and the two of them spent the next year traveling in their motor home. In 2002 they decided to make Middleton their permanent home, in order to be closer to the grandchildren that were living in the area. Don and Carolyn continued to enjoy traveling. Don was active in the Masonic Lodge throughout his life, receiving his 3rd Degree in 1956 and becoming Master of his lodge in 1968. While in Alaska his activities continued and he became active in both the York and Scottish Rites. He was elected to the highest state offices for all branches of the York Rites. He was very active in the Masonic youth organizations, and was Rainbow “Dad” several times and worked extensively with the DeMolay for young men. He continued this after his move to Idaho. He also enjoyed going out and helping Carolyn’s cousin Paul Wares on his ranch near Baker City, Oregon. In March, 2013 he suffered a serious fall which left him with Parkinson-like symptoms and decreasing health and abilities. He is survived by his wife of 59 years Carolyn (Martin) Winters of Middleton, his children Cheryl (Winters) Mazzier and her husband Vincenzo of Boise, Linda Winters of Anchorage, Alaska, William Winters of Middleton, and Diana (Winters) Bush and her husband Steven of Nampa. He had four grandchildren, Maria, Marco, Kyle and Sierra. A memorial will be held on Tuesday, June 20 at 2 PM at the Meridian Masonic Temple, 800 East Second Street, Meridian, Idaho. The family requests that donations be made to the Knights Templar Eye Foundation, Inc. 1033 Long Prairie Road, Suite 5, Flower Mountain, TX 75022 and the Children’s Dyslexia Centers, Inc. Attn: Robert F. Ogg, Jr., 33 Marrett Road, Lexington, MA 02431 (research) or Scottish Rite Foundation of Idaho, Dyslexia Learning Centers, 1407 W. Bannock, Boise, ID 83702 (local learning programs) . Inurnment will take place at a future date in Covelo, California.

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