Obituary of Don Carll

Donald Robert Carll (Don) passed away peacefully at 9:30 pm central time Tuesday December 15th, 2020 at Houston Hospice in Houston Texas. Don was born the younger of two sons to Harry and Lenore Carll on December 8, 1932, in St. Louis, Missouri. Harry Carll moved the family to Miami, Florida, where Don graduated from Edison High School in 1950. While attending the University of Miami, Don joined the United States Air Force Reserves and was called to active duty during the Korean conflict. Don served in the United States Air Force for two years, then returned to Miami to begin his career in residential land development and building construction. Don developed residential and commercial projects in Miami, Vero Beach, Melbourne, Titusville, Tallahassee, and Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, and Atlanta, Georgia. Don loved flying. In 1967, he obtained a private pilot’s license, purchased a twin-engine Beechcraft travel-air and enjoyed flying for business and pleasure. Prior to retirement, Don moved from Atlanta Georgia, to Destin, Florida, where he developed and constructed his final residential property in nearby Santa Rosa Beach. While living in Destin, Don met his wife Freida Benn; they were married in 2000. In 2001, Don and Freida purchased a motor coach and began traveling the United States and Canada for months each year, experiencing every notable landmark there was to see. Don’s and Freida‘s bucket list was complete. In 2017, they moved to Pearland, Texas, to be closer to Freida‘s family. Don enjoyed watching football and cheering on the Miami Hurricanes and the Florida Gators. He liked ushering in different churches in cities where he lived. Don and Freida were loyal members of Destin United Methodist Church, where he ushered for several years. They have attended Pearland First United Methodist Church and Lake Jackson United Methodist Church for the past three years. Mr. Carll is preceded in death by his parents, his brother, Gene R. Carll, and his aunt, Marion Robinson. He is survived by his wife of 21 years, Freida Carll, Pearland, Texas, daughter Donna Carll Andersen, Vero Beach, Florida, son Donald Robert Carll II and his wife Joyce, Atlanta, Georgia, son, Robert Christopher Carll and his wife Kristine, Bayfield, Colorado; stepson Freddy Wayne Benn and his wife Shelby, Rosharon, Texas, six grandchildren, Carrie Lenore Cotton and her husband Jeff, Brian Carll Edwards, Dallas Texas Charles Lawrence Andersen, Denton Texas, Adam Sutherland Carll and his wife Amber, Katherine Sutherland Hendrix and her husband Blake, Maxwell Sutherland Carll ,Atlanta, Georgia; two great grandchildren and five step grandchildren, Nathanial Benn and his wife Leilani, Zachary Benn, Heather Hernandez and her husband James, Christopher Crowe and his wife Jenna and April Maldonado and her husband Peter; and ten step great grandchildren. Just before Donald’s passing, he experienced the joy of celebrating his 88th birthday with his wife, children and grandchildren surrounding him in celebration of his long life. He is, and will continue to be, sorely missed. Private Family Services for Don will be held at Clayton Funeral Home, 5530 W. Broadway, Pearland, Texas 77581. Interment will be at Arlington Memorial Park in Georgia.