Donald (Don) Wixon ended his long, courageous battle with cancer on Monday, October 27, 2026, surrounded by his loving family and friends at the VNA Hospice House. He was 69. 

Born September 10, 1957 in Bristol, Rhode Island, Don was practically a native Floridian, as he moved to West Palm Beach as a toddler with his family. His family were frequent visitors of Vero Beach from the 1970s. He was an avid fisherman and his best days were spent fishing on his boat, at Sebastian Inlet State Park or just along the beach. He was quick to tell stories of the perfect catch and would share his secret places for finding fish and bait with his friends. 

A graduate of Cardinal Newman High School in West Palm Beach, Don earned a master’s degree in Public Administration from Orlando College. He earned two Bachelor of Arts degrees from the University of Central Florida: Public Administration (1986) and Criminal Justice (1985). He met his wife, Colleen Deslaurier Wixon, soon after moving full-time to Vero Beach, and they married in 2000 at St. Helen Church in Vero Beach. During his time in Indian River County, Don worked for Vero Beach, Sebastian and Indian River County and as a substitute teacher for the Indian River County School District. He previously was the operations manager for St. Sebastian Catholic Church and was a long-time member of St. Sebastian. 

Aside from fishing, Don enjoyed taking his dog, Paco, to the Vero Beach Dog Park almost daily, where he could visit with friends in the small dog park. He loved his family, was a strong believer in the Holy Spirit and studied nutrition and diet. He rarely met a stranger, often striking up long conversations with people he met in stores and while fishing. 

In addition to his wife, Don is survived by his beloved son, Peter. He was preceded in death by his parents, Maurice and Lucille Wixon; and his sister, Joan Wixon. 

A funeral Mass will be held 11 a.m. Monday, November 2, at St. Sebastian Catholic Church. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating in Don’s name to the Vero Beach Dog Park, 505 Beachland Boulevard, Suite 1-124, Vero Beach, FL 32963. 

Don’s memorial page is on the Seawinds Funeral Home website at www.seawindsfh.com