DEWITTVILLE-  Donald Allan Ames, Sr. (69) of Dewittville, NY went to be with his Savior on December 13, 2022, with his wife by his side. Don was born in Jamestown, NY on July 13, 1953, to Allan Garfield Ames and Luella Mae Johnson Ames. He grew up in the Mayville and Panama area where in high school he lettered in swimming and tapped all the trees on the main street to make maple syrup.

Anyone who knew Don knew he was an extremely hard worker, entrepreneur, and passionate about providing for his family.  Even at an early age, under the tutelage of his grandfather, he learned plumbing and from his father, he learned much about construction and electrical work. He attended Bob Jones University, where he met his future bride, and studied radio/t.v. and learned about electronics and circuitry. He then branched out and worked construction, concrete finishing and worked for an electrician.  He owned electric motor repair shops in multiple locations, including: Decatur, IL; Dewittville, NY; Jacksonville, FL; and back to Dewittville, NY. He gained much experience with rewinding electric motors, machine work, power generation and marine motor repair. Through the years, no matter what, he always found time to farm and find an excuse to run his bulldozers. After an accident in 1990, Don lived with chronic pain, yet continued faithfully to push through for years to raise his 4 children and support his wife for as long as the Lord would allow.

On June 21, 1974, he married the love of his life, Debra L. Bartlett, and together they had 4 children. These four children gave him 15 grandchildren who adored their "poppa". He treasured every outing with them, including: fishing, riding the scout through the woods, taking care of the garden, watching movies and many tractor rides. At the family farm in NY, he was able to pursue his joy of farming and making maple syrup, that had been in him since childhood. He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Debra B. Ames; his children Danielle (Michael) Kicher, Darci (Mike) Metcalf, DJ Ames, Dixon (Katie) Ames, his 15 grandchildren: Kate, Allie, Sophie, and Isabelle Kicher; Madison, Zeke, Brody and Lincoln Metcalf; Ellie, Becca, Abbie, and Tripp Ames; Jay, Levi, and Sadie Ames.

The family will receive friends at the Freay Funeral Home in Mayville, NY, on Monday, December 19 ^th from 10 am-12pm with a memorial service to follow at noon officiated by Pastor Gary Henry  and a burial service immediately following at Mayville Cemetery.

Memorials can be made to a local church or a mission board of your choice.

To leave a remembrance or to post condolences to the family, please visit www.freayfuneralhome.com