Donald E. Cummings

THE LIFE AND TIMES OF DONALD E. CUMMINGS

Don Cummings, or “Donald Everett,” when he was being ornery with his beloved wife, Teresa Kay Dennis Cummings, lived a full, rich and often adventurous 74 years on this planet. Though it was widely suspected that he was a Viking in another life, a Civil War General, and a “Jeremiah Johnson-type” mountain man, he always said he wanted to explore the Milky Way in his next lifetime. Knowing Don Cummings, that’s probably exactly what he’s already doing.

Born in Tulsa, OK, on November 18, 1940, he was a child of the Depression, moving here and there with his parents, now deceased, Robert Charles Cummings Sr., and Lucy Mae “Mickey” Gray Cummings, and his surviving brother, Robert “Bob” Cummings Jr., and William “Jack” Cummings (deceased). He learned to fish and hunt to help survive those lean years growing up, and those skills served him well throughout his life.

Don attended Justice Elementary, and graduated from Will Rogers High School in 1959. Although rather a loner in school, he led an adventurous group of young men known as “The Trojans” into many shenanigans, which closely resembled the later writings of the book/movie “The Outsiders.” He maintained fond relationships with many of his friends from those years.

Don was a member for many years of the original Tulsa Bassmasters, honing the skills of his favorite past-time, wrangling those wily fish, catch-and-release style. His singular fashion preference probably derived from those days – a Carharrt
T-shirt (with a pocket for his glasses), khaki shorts, thongs or tennis shoes and a fishing hat were his usual couture-du-jour. Unless, of course, he was required to put on his “monkey suit” and appear in court or meet new clients – then he cleaned up very nicely as a graduate attorney from The University of Tulsa School of Law, Class of 1965.

Don was one of the youngest lawyers to become a General Counsel for a Fortune 500 company in Houston, TX. After that high-stress stint with Top Secret clearance, where he had to navigate weekly through national and international legal venues, Don decided to return to his roots in Tulsa, OK. There he maintained a successful law practice, representing the “underdogs” against the insurance industry, and tilting at windmills whenever it suited him.

Being a man of many interests, Don was a gifted artist/painter, photographer, landscaper, interior decorator, woodcarver, writer, storyteller, and collector of museum-quality, antique Native American, Western and Civil War artifacts. He and his soulmate, Teresa, traveled thousands of miles together during their 6-year courtship and 32-year marriage, hunting for the hidden treasures of the rural countryside, in forgotten towns, and meeting many colorful characters along their journey.

Don loved his family. He met his wife, Teresa, in 1976, and never stopped wooing her. Theirs was a unique and powerful love story - they always tried to make time for their daily “tete-a-tetes” to keep their communication and love affair both vital and current. Don felt that his greatest gifts were his children: daughter, Jessica Dawn Cummings, 24, of Tulsa, OK, who is a true visionary with amazing empathic healing gifts, touching lives everywhere; daughter, Andrea Marie Cummings Vardell, Pleasanton, CA, who is so artistic and sensitively creative in a wide myriad of arenas, married to entrepreneur and former NFL running back and fullback, “Touchdown Tommy” Vardell; and son, Gregory Brent Cummings, New Orleans, LA, who is a very talented and gifted entrepreneur of great strength and courage, married to Dawn Cummings. Don truly believed that each of his children have unlimited gifts and potential to accomplish anything they set their minds to, and he was very proud of them all.

Don’s daughter, Andrea, recalls that, “Dad could always find a feather from the ground to put in his hat. He was God’s mouthpiece – literally a tour guide through life. Seeing the world through his eyes is what I will miss the most. He could turn the seemingly most mundane moments into intensely interesting and meaningful memories. It was his gift to those he loved. He was such a great teacher!”

He was “Poppy” to his grandkids, Grace & Colton Vardell, of Pleasanton, CA, and “Grandpa” to Madison, Taylor and Gavin Cummings, of New Orleans, LA. He always had lots of stories to share, including his adventures as a 13-year old lad exploring the wilds of Alaska, killing the bear trying to invade his tent, and being saved by a passing Native from certain death after rescuing his own grandpa from their overturned canoe and losing all their supplies.

In addition to his brother, Bob, Don is also survived and remembered by his supportive “in-loves” (aka in-laws), Earl and Edna Dennis; Brother-in-love, Gary Dennis, married to Suzan Dennis, and children, Justin, James, Daniel and Christina; and brother-in-love, Jason Dennis, married to Jaclyn Dennis, and sons, Wyatt and Weston. His Aunt Dorris Gray Bowers Doyle, Uncle Everett Gray, and many close cousins, nephews and nieces all stand in salute of Don’s life and brave spirit.

Never without plenty of furry friends, Don was a romantic, an avid student of history, an engaging philosopher, poet, intellectual, witty and wise, creative, a dreamer, visionary, generous of spirit and a hero to all who knew him. He fought his valiant fight, like the Warrior he was, against prostate cancer with bone metastasis for over ten years, without complaint, never giving up, always hoping for the best – “John Wayne-ing” it to the end. Strong. Courageous. Meticulous. Persistent. He was a man of integrity, honor, respect and great heart.

Don Cummings was truly One-of-a-Kind. Look for him in the stars of the Milky Way, riding on the waves of a comet, or catching moonbeams like trout jumping out of a clear mountain stream. For there he will be – Forever Loved, Celebrated, Missed and Never, Ever Forgotten.