Donald Rue Posey, 88, of Midland, Texas, passed away on Monday, February 23, 2015. Born in San Diego, to Russel and Alva Dee Posey, he spent most of his life in Texas. Growing up in Amarillo, he attended Amarillo High School and graduated with the Class of 1944. During those years, he spent summers working in New Mexico as a ranch hand and line rider. Upon graduating, he enlisted in the Navy and served in the Pacific as signalman and quartermaster aboard LST-568.Shortly after discharge from the Navy, he enrolled in Colorado College, graduating in 1951 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Geology. He was a lifelong member of Kappa Sigma Fraternity. About that time, through relatives he met Jean Bonnell of Fort Dodge, Iowa. They were married June 21, 1951. During this period, Don enrolled in the graduate geology program at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa and earned his Masters of Science in Geology in 1955. Soon after, he joined Shell Oil as a junior geologist in Oklahoma City. Shell transferred him to Midland in 1956 and he retired from Shell when the Midland office was moved to Houston in 1974. He then became a successful independent exploration geologist in Midland. In 2000, he created one of the first sites to feature drilling prospects on the Internet, OilandGasExplorations.com. He was a frequent volunteer at the Subsurface Log Library and a member of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists. Don retired from the oil and gas business in 2008. His enjoyment of his chosen field never faded.Don loved to camp, fish and sail. He also loved New Mexico and southern Colorado, where the family spent numerous summer vacations. Don was also an avid tennis player from the 1970’s through the 1990’s. He played in many tournaments with Midland Tennis Club and helped organize some of the Highway 80 collegiate tournaments of the time. Don and Jean loved the arts. Don’s special interest was Southwestern paintings. He very much loved spending time with his wife, his family and grandchildren. Don will be remembered as a friendly, good-natured person with an off-beat sense of humor. He read widely, with a special interest in history.Don was preceded in death by his parents, Russel and Alva Dee Posey. Survivors include his wife, Jean, his sister, Dee Ellis of Cupertino, CA, son, Richard Posey of Grapevine, TX, daughter, Susan Posey and her husband Stephen Bergener of Katy, TX along with four grandchildren, Kendall Posey, Robyn Posey, Ellen Bergener and Freddie Bergener.Private family services will be held at a later date. The family requests In lieu of flowers, charitable donations can be made in his memory to the Alzheimer’s Association (alz.org).Arrangements are under the direction of Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home & Crematory. Online condolences can be made at www.npwelch.com.,
