Don Richard Head of Braman, Oklahoma, died Thursday morning, December11, 2008, in the Blackwell Regional Hospital at the age of 77 years.

Don Richard Head was born on August 3, 1931, in Wichita, Kansas, to Irvin Franklin and Lela Marie (Allen) Head. He grew up in Wichita attending Wichita Public Schools before attending Missouri Military Academy in Mexico, Missouri, where he graduated in 1949. He then furthered his education by attending Wichita State University for one year. Following his education he began working as a draftsman for Boeing Aircraft in Wichita. While working there he met Shirley Louise Richards and they were united in marriage in Newkirk, Oklahoma, on September 1, 1951. He entered the United States Army in 1951 and was honorably discharged on May 24, 1954, the same year he moved his family to the Head Family farm near Braman, Oklahoma. After moving to Kay County he and his wife began their dairy business and he commuted to Wichita and continued working for Boeing until 1965. Shortly after their move to the farm he bought his first Registered Brown Swiss. He loved his cows with a passion, second only to his family. He bred and owned numerous Grand Champions at the county, state, regional and national shows. His Head's Crest prefix was recognized nationwide. He served as president of the Oklahoma Brown Swiss Association for many years. He also served as president of the Oklahoma Purebred Dairy Cattle Association. He was recognized by his peers as the PDCA Herdsman of the Year in 1991. He served on the National Brown Swiss Type Committee for several years and judged internationally in Peru, Ecuador and Columbia. Shirley and he retired and sold their registered Brown Swiss herd in 2006.

He is survived by his wife, Shirley Louise Richards Head of Braman, Oklahoma; a sister, Pat Hinton and husband Warren of Amity, Missouri; four children, Trisha Marie Cobb and husband Abe of Perkins, Oklahoma, Tena Ellen Cobb and husband Ben of Windsor, Colorado, David Richard Head and wife Marie of Braman, Oklahoma, and Duane Franklin Head and wife Kim of Braman, Oklahoma; twelve grandchildren, Chelsea Ownbey, Abe Cobb II, Bryce Moeder, Matthew Wells, Jennifer Scott and husband Jeremy, Jeramy Head and wife Laci, Alexandrea Simmons, Jyden Van Buren, Neal Head and wife Denise, Kacie Head and fiancé Ryan Blair, Jayme Wolfe and husband Kyle, Justin Head; and ten great grandchildren, Isaiah and Lucius Ownbey, Jakobi Wells, Averie and Brylie Moeder, Trinity and Trey Scott, Louden Wolfe and Kyson and Payton Head.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and a granddaughter, Cinnamon Marie Wells.

Services are scheduled for 11:00 a.m., Saturday, December 13th in the First United Methodist Church in Braman, Oklahoma, with the Rev. C. M. Wilson officiating. Burial will follow in the Rose Hill Cemetery in South Haven, Kansas.

Honorary casketbearers will be Abe Cobb II, Jeremy Scott, Matthew Wells and Ryan Blair. Serving as casketbearers will be Neal Head, Justin Head, Jeramy Head, Bryce Moeder, Jyden Van Buren and Kyle Wolfe.

Memorial contributions can be made to the First United Methodist Church in Braman in c/o Roberts and Son Funeral Home.