Donald 'Donnie' Franklin Garland, eight-four years of age, of Lexington, Kentucky, formerly of Cumberland, passed away peacefully on  October 7, 2023 while at Homestead Post Acute nursing center in Lexington, Kentucky.

The middle of three sons, Donnie was born in Harlan County on October 9, 1938 to Charles Edgar and Georgia Lois Hall Garland. A lifelong resident of Harlan County, Donnie graduated from Cumberland High School in 1959. He attended and graduated from Cumberland College in 1964 with a major in history and a minor in art. Donnie was drafted into the service but Harlan County was in need of an art instructor so he was pulled off of the military bus and sent to Cawood High School, where he became the CHS art instructor. He worked in the Harlan County School System for eleven years, while also teaching history classes at Southeast Community College in Cumberland.

During the summer of 1975, Donnie was hired at U.S. Steel mining company. His intention was to see how he liked mine work, while earning more income than teaching provided. More than twenty-three years later, in 1998, Donnie retired from Arch of Kentucky. He never went back to teaching but teaching was the job he was most passionate about.

Donnie was a quiet, gentle man who loved to fish, enjoyed playing the KY Lottery, and was a huge animal lover. He was a hard worker, who never complained and he valued education, and the man LOVED Kentucky Fried Chicken. Donnie was an avid UK basketball fan, had a quick wit, and enjoyed spending time with his friends and family. He especially enjoyed time spent with Jimmy, who was his best friend as well as his little brother. Donnie was saved and was a baptized believer in Jesus Christ as his Savior.

Donnie is preceded in death by an infant son, Donald F. Garland, Jr; his parents, Charles and Georgia Garland; his older brother, Charles Edward Garland, II; and his sister-in-law, Nancy Farmer Garland.

Left to cherish his memory is his son, Randy Garland, wife, Allisa, and their children, Zach, Justin, and Taylor; and son, Russell Garland, wife, Beth, and their children, Ben and Matthew, all of Lexington; his brother, Jimmy Garland and wife, Hannah, along with their children, Jimmy Dale and Rachel; the mother of his sons, Shirley Dodd; a host of nieces, nephews, and extended family members, as well as many dear friends.

Services for Donnie will be held Saturday, October 14, 2023 at the chapel of Tri City Funeral Home in Benham, KY. Visitation will be from 12:00-1:00 with the funeral beginning at 1:00pm. Donnie's nephew, Craig Garland, will be officiating. Burial will be at the Cornett Family Cemetery, located on Hwy 522 between Totz and Nolansburg. Pallbearers will be Zach Garland, Justin Garland, Ben Garland, Matthew Garland, Chris Garland, and Jimmy Dale Garland. Chuck Garland will be an honorary pallbearer.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the church of your choosing in Donnie's memory.

Tri City Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Mr. Donnie Garland.