Donald Arnett

Donald Rex Arnett, 81, of Aurora, passed away on Thursday, January 18, 2018 at the Garrett Regional Medical Center.  Born on July 29, 1936 in West Virginia, he was the son of the late Dwight L. and N. Marie (Strawser) Arnett.   Don graduated from Aurora High School in 1952.  He promptly started his logging career at the age of 18 working for a man who cut with a crosscut saw and skidded logs with a team of horses.  Don later owned and operated his own logging business, Arnett Logging.  Throughout his 45 years of logging, Don’s respect for the land owner and nature earned him the prestigious West Virginia Outstanding Logger of the Year award.  He was a member of the Mountain Loggers Group.  Don proudly served his country in the United States Army from 1960-1961.  While stationed in Alaska, he had the honor of meeting President Dwight Eisenhower.  Don was a family man who enjoyed spending time with his wife and children, and fishing was his biggest passion.  He and his buddy Charlie Knotts were known to travel far and wide to find the best fishing holes in West Virginia.  In his later years, he loved the thrill of planting things in various places to see how they would grow.  Don is survived by his bride of 58 years, Marilyn J. (Sanders) Arnett; a son, Rex Arnett of Aurora; and a daughter, Darlene Gill and husband Danny of Eagle River, AK; two granddaughters, Savannah Arnett of Aurora and Brandi Arnett of Washington, D.C.; and a brother, Joe Arnett and wife Rosella of Albuquerque, NM.  In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by eight siblings.  A memorial service will be held at the C & S Fredlock Funeral Home, P.A., 21 N. 2nd St., Oakland on Saturday, January 27, 2018 at 11:00 AM.  Interment of his cremated remains will be scheduled at a later date.  Condolences for the family may be left at www.csfredlockfh.com.