Don Carlos Dilley, Jr. Born Jan. 8, 1946-Died Sept 14, 2023

Don married twice but loved only one, his sweetheart Anne. His love for Anne was almost as great as the love he had for his son, David (AKA Kidlet or Kid). He was a big brother to two little sisters—Sissy-poo and Baby Sister. Overall, he was a good big brother with a few exceptions, like the time he convinced baby sister she was adopted.

As a teen, Don dreamed of being a rock star. He built an electric guitar in high school shop and started a band. Having no garage, rehearsals were held in an open lot next to where he lived. Thankfully, the neighbors tolerated the not-always-melodious sounds of teenage musicians. Open-lot rehearsals ended the night that bats showed up and one got stuck in his girlfriend's hair.

He was a 1964 graduate of S.D. Lee High School and a student at S.D. Lee Junior High when it mysteriously burned. Oh, the conspiracies he wove about the source of the fire. He chronicled his youth in Columbus, Mississippi with tales of drinking his first beer (a 15 cent Blatz) at the Elbow Room; fish tailing his car on Officer's Lake Road; and the lively times he had at Bob's place.

He joined the Air Force in 1964 and was a proud Vietnam era veteran. There he was introduced to the trade that he developed throughout his life. His career took him to Colorado, California, Texas, Mississippi, and finally Georgia. Along the way he had grand adventures and made life-long friends.

Storytelling was in his blood and poetry was in his soul. He wrote his first poem in high school and dedicated it to a teacher he secretly had a crush on. He continued writing poetry throughout his life. His family and friends are fortunate to have two published books of his literary art. He was a dedicated member of The Poets of Mars. It is to his muses, friends, family, and especially his son that this poem is dedicated:

PONDERING YONDER

By Don Dilley

There is a word that I will ponder,

The word I ponder will be yonder,

It seems that yonder is not here,

Is yonder where I'll find a beer?

Is yonder close or is it far?

I say that yonder is in the bar.

Yonder is where I am not,

I'm sleepy, yonder is my cot.

Yonder is where I could be.

Yonder could be past the sea,

As here I sit and ponder yonder,

Yonder makes my heart grow fonder.

Lovingly written by "Baby Sister." We hope your Yonder is filled with bliss.