Pastor Don F. Houghton, age 83, passed away peacefully in his sleep on Friday,
February 24, 2017, at his home in rural Cleburne, Texas.
Don was born on January 19, 1934 in Caddo, Texas to Oscar Franklin Houghton and
Viola Anderson Houghton. He grew up on a farm near Breckinridge, Texas and spent
several years as a teenager in Fallon, Nevada.
He married Mary Lee Sharpe in Breckinridge, Texas on June 5, 1954 and they
enjoyed nearly 63 years together, raising a large family including nine children,
along with two grandchildren, Billy and Jaque Willson.
Don attended Southwestern Junior College in Keene, Texas; Union College in
Lincoln, Nebraska; and Andrews University Theological Seminary in Berrien
Springs, Michigan. 
He began ministry in the Seventh-day Adventist Church as a
Literature Evangelist and Publishing Associate Director. 
He served for two years as a Church School Teacher before transitioning into Pastoral Ministry, serving more than 21 different churches. 
He also spent time as an Evangelist preaching scores of
public evangelistic meetings and planting churches where there was no Adventist
presence. He also spent several years as the Ministerial Director for two different
conferences serving as the Pastor’s Pastor and training young pastors just entering
ministry.
During more than 50 years of ministry, Don and Mary Lee served in multiple cities
in the United States, including locations in Iowa, Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma,
Indiana, Arizona, and Texas.
His ministry focused on pointing anyone who would listen to, in his words, “the
beauty of the Gospel of Jesus Christ”. His passion was his family and showing people
the Love of Jesus. He was renowned as a Preacher of the Word. During his days in
Public Evangelism, his tagline was, “The Bible has the answers, and Houghton reads
the Bible”!
Don is survived by his wife of 63 years, Mary Lee Sharpe Houghton; nine
children, Daniel Houghton (Karen) of Fallbrook, California, Robin Houghton (Angie)
of Alvarado, Texas, Barry Warren (Sherry) of Wylie, Texas, Susan Houghton James
(Denton) of Cleburne, Texas, Lisa Warren Manzano (Sergio) of Keene, Texas, Bonnie
Houghton Knaubert (Robert) of Cleburne, Texas, Jay Warren (Dee Dee) of
Scottsdale, Arizona, Patrick Warren (Vicki) of Burleson, Texas, Scott Houghton (Eva)
of Tyler, Texas; thirty-four grandchildren and fourteen great grandchildren.
He is also survived by his brother, Bill Houghton of Sulphur Springs, Texas and his
sister, Jean Houghton Brezindine of Rialto, California.
Don was preceded in death by brothers, Benjamin Houghton, Joseph Houghton and
James Houghton; and sisters, Frances Houghton Warren, Lois Houghton Sharpe and
Rose Houghton Emm.
A Celebration of Life Service will take place on Friday, March 3, 2017 at 10:00 A.M.
in the Burleson Seventh-day Adventist Church, 601 South Burleson Blvd, Burleson,
Texas 76028. The family will greet guests starting at 9:00 A.M.
A private graveside service will follow for family at a cemetery several hours
distance from the Burleson church.
Memorial gifts may be made to the Don F. Houghton Memorial Evangelism Fund at
the Southwestern Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, 777 South Burleson
Blvd, Burleson, Texas, 76028.
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