Donald Stuart Fraser, 73, of Horseshoe Bay died Aug. 6, 2015

Donald Stuart Fraser, 73, otherwise known as “Catfish” to all his friends, entered the gates of Heaven on Aug. 6, 2015.

Born in Detroit on Oct. 26, 1941, to Marjorie “Midge” V. Hyde and Donald “Bud” Fraser, he grew up around automobiles. His father worked for Ford Motor Co., and Donald was able to spend time with the Ford family growing up. During this time, the family moved back and forth between Detroit, Chicago and the Indianapolis area because of his father’s job with Ford.

The family moved to Carmel, Indiana, in 1957, and he attended Carmel High School, where he played the drums in the band. He graduated in 1959.

After graduating from high school, Don joined the U.S. Navy, went to basic training at Naval Station Great Lakes in Illinois and was assigned sea duty as an electrician’s mate. After being honorably discharged from the Navy, Don went to work for General Telephone & Electric Corporation (GTE) and retired in 1989.

After retirement, Donald worked numerous odd jobs to keep himself busy and tended to his famous yard. He enjoyed playing hockey, bowling, watching sports, being outdoors, landscaping, playing golf, being on the water, fishing and enjoying time with his friends and family. He earned the name “Catfish” when he was fishing with some friends in Fredericksburg, hooked himself with a treble hook and fell out of the boat. His friends quickly yelled out, “Catfish!”

He was preceded in death by his mother, Marjorie “Midge” V. Hyde; father, Donald “Bud” Fraser; stepfather, John V. Hyde; and niece Shannon McPherson.

Donald is survived by his daughter, Donelle Fraser, granddaughter Brittany Fraser and son-in-law Christopher Gay of Fort Worth; sister Doris Ann McPherson and husband Lyn of Indianapolis; sister Marjorie Fraser Kerchner and companion Curtis Bowles of Richards; former wife, Theresa Raye “T.R.” Fraser of Huntington Beach, California; former stepdaughters, Stacie Tarrant of Castle Rock, Colorado, and Yvette Samick of Huntington Beach; nephews Scott Kerchner of Asheville, North Carolina, Bradley Kerchner of Austin and Shawn McPherson; niece Shelia McPherson of Indianapolis; and great-nephews, Kendall McPherson and Shannon Brown of Indianapolis. Catfish is also survived by his best friend, Edward “Teddy” Rance, and countless other friends.

“I think how he must be wishing that we could know today how nothing but our sadness can really pass away. I think of him as living in the hearts of those he touched. For nothing loved is ever lost, and he was loved so much.”

Like his mother, Midge, Catfish was a friend of all, and when he walked into a room, everyone knew he was there, and sometimes he would literally dance into a room.

A celebration of life service is 3:30 p.m. Aug. 12 at Catfish’s old stomping grounds, the Hole in 1 Sports Bar and Grill, 7401 RR 2147 in Horseshoe Bay.

Flowers or plants may be sent to family home at 515 Pecan Creek Drive Horseshoe Bay.