Donald "Don" Jay Greeno

Donald Jay Greeno was born November 22, 1942, to Jay and Louise Greeno in San Diego, California. He died peacefully of cancer on October 28, 2024, in Farmington, New Mexico.

Don was raised and attended schools in San Diego, graduating from Crawford High School in 1961. Choosing a life of service to others, he attended California College of Mortuary Science in Los Angeles, and served his apprenticeship in Santa Barbara and received his license in 1965, then worked in Ventura, CA.

He married his first wife in 1964, and had 2 children, Jennifer and Donald II. That marriage ended in divorce.

Don worked next at Greenwood Memorial Park and Mortuary Starting there in 1969 working as a funeral director. He was promoted to assistant mortuary manager and later to Director of Cemetery Operations. During that time, he also served in the Chula Vista Police Department as a Police Reserve Officer and retired as a Captain after 10 years of service. He also shot on the police pistol team in competition with other departments and was second best in the state of California.

Don married Linda Bayless, a second time for both of them and acquired a stepson, Matthew. Many happy summers were spent boating on the Colorado River with his family, friends, and co-workers from Greenwood.

He was offered a promotion to head up the Colorado and New Mexico operations by Service Corp. Inc. Don accepted the challenge and moved his family to Denver, CO – based at Crown Hill Cemetery and Mortuary. While in Denver he was President of Colorado Association of Cemeteries.

In 1987, Don resigned. and he and his wife purchased their own funeral home in Steamboat Springs, CO where he was a deputy coroner for Routt County. Don was a member and past president of the Lions Club while there.

After selling the funeral home and wanting to try something different they moved to Arkansas and purchased a drive-in convenience store and restaurant. Selling that business, he accepted a position as Area General Manager for the Alderwoods Group in Monetary, CA.

When it was time to retire, they moved to the Great Falls area of Montana. Living there for 13 years and wanting to live in a warmer climate they moved to Farmington N.M. as Don was 75.

Don had long been active in Masonic organizations. Raised in 1966 in CA. He was Master of Elk Mountain Lodge #118 AF&AM in 1990 and received his 50-year pin and certificate in 2016. He was a Member at Large in the Scottish Rite Bodies, York Rite Bodies, and Korene Shrine Temple in Rawlins, WY.

Don is survived by his wife of 53 years, Linda; his son, Donald II (Jolene); daughter, Jennifer; stepson, Matthew Johnson; brother, Joseph (Joan) Greeno, a sister-in-law, Joan (David) Greeno; 7 grandchildren; and numerous great-grandchildren, nephews, and nieces. He was predeceased by his father and mother, Jay and Louise Greeno; brother, David Greeno; and niece, Julie Lindsey.