Donald “Don” Fred Trexler Sr. was born July 8, 1943, in Emmet, Arkansas, to the late Fred and Faye Trexler. He passed away October 3, 2026, in Little Rock, Arkansas. Don was the fourth of nine children and the oldest son in a large, close-knit family.
Don was preceded in death by his beloved son, Donald “Donnie” Fred Trexler Jr.; his great-grandson, Tony Trotter; his sisters, Peggy Bailey and Pat Houser; and his parents, Fred and Faye Trexler.
He leaves behind his wife of 59 years, Alice Ruth Snell Trexler of Emmet, with whom he shared a lifetime of love, family, memories, and adventures. He is also survived by his daughter, Stephanie Trexler of Emmet.
Don was a proud grandfather to four grandchildren and a loving great-grandfather to twelve great-grandchildren.
His grandchildren and their families include Arron Snow and his wife, Jessica, of Maryville, Tennessee, and their daughters, Jaina and Raven. Samantha Icenhower, and her children Jalen, Samuel, and Paislee Trexler of Emmet, and Cameron Icenhower of Maryville, Tennessee. Joseph “Drew” Hagstrom, and his children Jovie, Lennox, and Adler-Drew Hagstrom of Maryville, Tennessee. Adi Hagstrom and Jerry Trotter, and their son Trey of Murfreesboro, Arkansas.
Don is also survived by his six siblings: Dr. Anna R. Trexler of Magnolia; Charles Trexler of Magnolia; Nancy Hartness of Mineral Springs; Sandra and Richard McMurtrey of Bentonville; Marilyn and Bob Kohler of Sherwood, Arkansas; and Dwight Trexler of Texarkana, Arkansas; along with many nieces and nephews—far too many to list individually, but each a part of the large family that meant so much to him.
A Love Story That Seemed Meant to Be
Don met the love of his life, Alice, in West Memphis, Arkansas. But their story has a special twist that almost seems as though life was already quietly leading them toward one another. A few years before Alice ever met Don, she and a friend were taking a road trip. Along the way, they stopped in the little town of Emmet, Arkansas, at the Chuck Wagon. At the time, Alice had no idea how important that little town would one day become to her. The Chuck Wagon sat along the very same road where Don had grown up with his parents—and the same road where Don and Alice would eventually make their home many years later. She had passed through his hometown before she ever knew his name. Years later, Don and Alice met in West Memphis, Arkansas, fell in love, married, and built a life together that would span nearly six decades.
For the largest part of their married life, Don and Alice made their home in West Memphis, Arkansas, where they raised their family and built countless memories together. Don worked for the Carpenters Local in Memphis, Tennessee, for many years. He later traveled for work as a superintendent in geotechnical drilling with several different drilling companies. He was a hardworking man who spent much of his life providing for the family he loved. During his years in West Memphis, Don was also a member of the Masonic Lodge, an affiliation that was part of the life and community he built there. But more than any job, title, or affiliation, Don’s greatest legacy can be seen in the family that grew around him—the generations that followed, the stories that will continue to be told, and the memories held by everyone fortunate enough to call him husband, Dad, Papaw, brother, and friend.
Service times are pending at this time.