Donald Colbert, Sr

Donald Wayman Colbert, Sr., of Little Rock, passed away on Saturday, February 13, 2021. He was born on Christmas Day in 1937, the youngest child of Alvin Lawrence and Lula Mae Gentry Colbert. He graduated from Colombia Military Academy in Tennessee and loved his time there. He often said it made him the man he became. Don served in the US Army, and was stationed at Ft. Bliss in El Paso, TX, where he met his late wife, Kay. They lived in Kansas City, MO, briefly, but soon returned to Little Rock where he had accepted a position with TJ Rainey & Sons. Most of his professional career was spent at Stephens, Inc., where he was VP of Public Finance. Among his many accomplishments were creating bond issues for the “new” Baptist Hospital, additions at Arkansas Children’s Hospital, as well as numerous public bond issues for schools, hospitals, and municipalities throughout Arkansas. He loved to fish, which was a great way to spend time with his sons, just as he had done with his father. He had a love/hate relationship with his golf game and had a passion for all Razorback sports. His favorite pastime was playing his drums while listening to his favorite jazz artists. Don and two of his jazz enthusiast friends created Cypress Jazz, which brought in jazz musicians from all over the country to play at local venues. He loved history, especially WWII and the Greatest Generation. Don was involved in the Eucharistic ministry at Christ the King Catholic Church and enjoyed serving the eucharist to parishioners who were hospitalized or homebound. He served on the Board of Directors of the Wolfe Street Foundation and was a member of the Razorback Foundation. He was predeceased by his parents, sister Doris Moore, sister and brother-in-law, Louese and Mathew Holody, and brother A.L. (Bo) Colbert, spouse, Kathleen Flood Colbert, daughter and son-in-law, Deborah and Rick Wright, and son Donald W. Colbert, Jr. He is survived by his wife, Donna, children David Colbert, Cynthia Colbert Bass, and Mark Colbert (all of Little Rock), Andy (Sarah) Clark of Temecula, CA, and Elizabeth (Jeff) Smith, of Elkins, AR; grandchildren Trey Wright, Mariel (Lisa) Spicer, Taylor (Thomas) Jucha, Noah Terry, Michael Bass, Katie Bass, Wyatt Smith, Evie Clark, and Andrew Clark III; great-grandchildren, Reilynn, River and Roman Jucha; and a host of nieces and nephews, whom he loved dearly. He loved all of his children but he loved being Papaw most of all. Mass of Christian burial is at 9:00am Thursday, February 25th at Christ the King Catholic Church. Due to Covid restrictions, attendance will be limited. CDC recommendations will be followed: social distancing and wearing a face covering. The service will be livestreamed on the church’s YouTube channel. Memorials may be made to the Wolfe Street Foundation, Alzheimer’s Arkansas, or CARTI. To sign the online guestbook, please visit www.ArkanasCremation.com

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