Donald (Donny) Lee Welton

Donald (Donny) Lee Welton, 68, passed peacefully on Dec. 26, 2014, in Prescott, Arizona. He was born on June 2, 1946, in Peoria, Illinois, to Donald and Hazel Welton. He is survived by his life partner Carla Rehfeld; daughters Shannon Sharps, Chandra Welton-Doyal, Janava Welton, and Sri Welton; grandchildren Matthew, Timothy, Summer, Skylar, Tula, Tara and Kirin; father Donald Welton; sister Barbara Dantone; aunt Thelma; and nephews Eric and Aron. Don was predeceased by his beloved wife Karen Hudson Welton, mother Hazel Welton and brother Billy Welton. Don graduated from East Peoria High School and was then drafted into the U.S. Army. He served in Vietnam from 1966 to 1968 with an honorable discharge. He was involved in the Hare Krishna movement (Iskon) for many years. Later in life, he attended College of the Sequoias in Visalia, California, receiving his Associates Degree in Dairy Management. He also attended College of the Redwoods in Eureka, California, studying aquaculture technology, graduating in 1992. Don was an artist as well as a craftsman. He and his family traveled the U.S. - him working as a herdsman on numerous dairies. In recent years he worked as a certified technician at West Yavapai Guidance Clinic, also volunteering as a docent at the Smoki Museum in Prescott, Arizona. Don was an open minded free spirit, interested in many spiritual practices and was involved in performing Native American Sweat Lodge ceremonies, Drumming Circles and Full Moon Gathering. He had faith that all paths lead to oneness consciousness. Don was loved by many. He will be missed and never forgotten.