Donnie Rutledge

Donnie Wayne Rutledge left this earth to his heavenly home on January 12, 2022 at the age of 57. Born December 10, 1964 to Thomas LeRoy & Jeanette Rutledge, Donnie was an Artesian his whole life and loved to watch the Bulldog football team on Friday nights. Donnie means so much to his family and friends and was a big part of his work family at FLETC where he spent the last 20+ years working in the AV department. Everyone knew and loved Donnie and his infectious smile, southern twang and big personality. He was a fun-loving guy who would always be there if you needed him and was a friend to all.

Donnie coached girls softball and many of the girls still remember the nick names he gave them and what a great coach he was. In his younger years, his nieces and nephews remember him as the family quarterback at get togethers. He would pick one kid as the receiver and give them the play then all the other kids would try and stop the receiver. If you knew Donnie you knew at least two things he enjoyed, roosters and the Dallas Cowboys. He got to see the Cowboys play in person and tried to convert everyone into a Cowboys fan. He spent most of his childhood at rooster fights with his dad, whom he lovingly called Daddy and his love for roosters continued through adulthood where he passed on that love to his son Nathan. Family was important to Donnie especially his kids and as the only Rutledge boy after Leroy passed he became the patriarch of the Rutledge family and his family misses him immensely.

Donnie is preceded in death by his parents LeRoy & Jeanette Rutledge and a sister, Mary Rutledge. Donnie is survived by his children: daughter Kayla Rutledge, daughter Kenzie Rutledge and grandson Zion Chavez, son Isaiah Ponce and grandchildren Julius & Sophie Sotelo, son Brandon Nelson (Britney), son Nathan Rutledge and daughter Natalie Rutledge; his sisters Sherry Wyatt, Angie Miller and Priscilla Rutledge; his nieces Jeanette Williams (Rick), Jamey Powers (Kevin), Marissa Leavitt (Cal), Sheena Smith (Timothy), Suzie Quezada (Tito), Nicole Fulwider; his nephews J.T. Johnson and Chad Miller (Cayla); his great nieces Holly Delgado (Billie), Heather Navarrette (Vince), Samantha Davis (Alec), Kimberly Powell, Charli & Evie Leavitt, Ashlynn Hinojos, Kaelyn Berdoza, April Johnson, Leanna Johnson; great nephews Justin Powell (Megan), Jett Leavitt, Matthew Quezada, Grayson Miller, Jordan Johnson, Micheal Johnson and Devon Kern and 13 great, great nieces and nephews.

A memorial service to remember Donnie is scheduled for 10:30 am Tuesday, February 1, at Harvest Fellowship.