Alamo – Donald W. 'Don' Bayless, age 82 of rural Alamo, passed away following a short illness in Franciscan Health Hospital, Crawfordsville at 9:45 PM Wednesday, October 21, 2020.  Don was born in Crawfordsville, March 7, 1938 son of the late Oakel G. and Thelma Lucille Cornell Bayless.  He married Sharron L. Williams on March 9, 1958 and she passed August 30, 2011.

Don was a 1956 graduate of Alamo High School where he participated in basketball and baseball.  He was a life long resident of Ripley Township.  He had previously farmed and continued to be active around the farm following his retirement.  Along with farming, he was employed for 20 plus years as a proof-reader with R.R. Donnelley & Sons, and worked at Kroger, Montgomery Ward, and also owned and operated the Alamo General Store.

He was a 50 plus year member of the Ripley Township (Alamo) Volunteer Fire Department, the Alamo Christian Church, and served on the Alamo Cemetery Board.  Don enjoyed watching sports, and for years had coached/umpired Little League/Pony League baseball.  He enjoyed the outdoors, gardening and was a meticulous landscaper who despised weeds.  He was a loving dad, always there for his family, never met a stranger and loved to talk.  He could walk into a restaurant full of strangers and leave knowing most of them!

Survivors include:  a daughter, Sandy (Larry) Krout of Indianapolis, two sons: Darrell Bayless of Terre Haute and Dan Bayless of Waynetown/Crawfordsville, a daughter Sheryl (Jerry) Link of Browns Valley.  Grandchildren:  Brooke, Ryan and Rachael Bayless, Dani Bayless, Elizabeth, Logan, and Emily Link.  Six great-grandchildren also survive.  He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, a brother Edwin, infant brother Carl Richard and daughter-in-law Jennifer Griffith Bayless.

Visitation hours are 5:00 – 8:00 PM Sunday, October 25, 2020 at Family and Friends Funeral Home of Wingate.  Funeral services at the funeral home 11:00 AM Monday, October 26, 2020 with Pastor Kevin Howey officiating.  Graveside services will follow in Alamo Cemetery.  The procession to Alamo Cemetery will be lead by Chief Steve LeJeune and the Ripley Township Volunteer Fire Department.  Memorial contributions may be directed to the Ripley Township Volunteer Fire Department or a charity of your choice in his honor.  Visit us at http://www.familyandfriendsfh.com to sign the guest book or leave a condolence.  Please use common sense and follow the suggestions of the CDC and Indiana State Board of Health in regard to COVID-19 when attending services.