DON CARMICHAEL
OKLAHOMA CITY-Services for Donald Earl Carmichael, 78, of Oklahoma City, formerly of Ada are 2:00 p.m. Saturday at the First Christian Church in Ada, Rev. Ray Moss will officiate. Burial will precede the service at 11:00 Saturday at Rosedale Cemetery in Ada. The family will receive friends from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Friday at the Criswell Funeral Home in Ada.
Mr. Carmichael died Thursday, February 23, 2012 at his home. He was born September 24, 1933 in Monmouth, Illinois to Earl A. and Elsie B. Holton Carmichael. He and his family moved to Wirt, Oklahoma in 1948 as his dad was employed as an engineer with Standard Oil of Indiana. After graduating from Dundee High School in 1952, Don enrolled at Oklahoma A & M and was drafted into the U. S. Army in 1954. Don's two years of military service included an extended period of time in Germany. He was discharged as a Korean War Veteran in 1956 and returned to school, graduating from East Central University in Ada in 1961. During his time in college, he worked for Richardson Buick in Ada part-time and later, after graduating continued working full-time.
He married Bettye Moss on April 3, 1964. In 1966, together with partner, Mitch Keeling, Don opened the Auto Mart, which became Toyota of Ada in 1969, the second Toyota franchise awarded in the State of Oklahoma. The dealership later added Chrysler/Plymouth and in 1975 a new "Carmichael-Keeling, Inc." dealership was constructed. After selling the dealership in 1987, Don continued as an independent used car dealer in Ada. He was known as "Ada's Smallest Car Dealer".
Mr. Carmichael was active in many organizations throughout his life; Ada Masonic Lodge, McAlester Consistory, India Shrine, UTC, Regional Vice President of the Junior Chamber of Commerce, and Past Deacon of the First Christian Church of Ada. As Trustee of the Ada Elk's Lodge, he was instrumental in the new building project. He served as a charter member of the Mid-America Basketball Tournament Association and supported Ada High School women's basketball and later OU women's basketball program.
Survivors include his wife, Bettye Carmichael, of the home; three daughters, Angie Sherrell of Houston, Elizabeth Sherrell Gunn of Washington, D.C. and Kay Carmichael Wheeler of Oklahoma City; a son-in-law, Lane Wheeler; an adopted daughter, Glynis Sawyer; and two grandchildren, Audrey and Adam Wheeler.
Bearers will be Lavelle Sanders, Johny Hodges, Larry Hill, Bud Blackburn, Sid Bearden, Bill Hill, James Treas, and Norman Frame. Honorary bearers will be Lane Wheeler and Adam Patrick Wheeler.
The family says those who wish may make memorials to the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation for Cancer Research, 825 NE 13th , Oklahoma City, OK 73104-5097; or the Shriners Hospitals for Children, P. O. Box 31356, Tampa, FL 33631-3356.
Obituaries may be viewed and online condolences sent to criswellfh.com.

Criswell Funeral Home, Ada