Donald Arthur Aylsworth – Passed away suddenly at home, on Monday, May 10, 2021. He was just days away from his 83rd birthday.
Beloved husband of Sharon (nee Williamson) for 56 years. Loving father of Allison Aylsworth (Tom Hinch) of Napanee and Shannon Holmes (Mark) of Green Bay Wisconsin.
Devoted grandfather of Alexa Scott (Connor Hisco) and Anderson Scott, along with Samantha, Sydney and Grace Holmes.
He will be lovingly remembered by his sister, Marion Burley of Napanee. He is predeceased by his father Herbert Aylsworth and his mother Grace Aylsworth (nee Rendell), and his siblings Ralph, Christie Manning, Herchimer, Doris Clare, Ross, Allan and Shirley Estey.
Don was raised on a dairy farm on the Deseronto Road, where his respect of the Holstein breed developed. He was a 4H member, later a member of Junior Farmers. His first job after high school was with Eastern Breeders. He was interviewed for his dream job with Holstein Canada as a classifier, where he remained until retirement.
Sheldon Shane shares:
Death ends a life, Not a Relationship
I received the news yesterday that a close friend of mine has passed away, I have two people who I have always looked up to ever since I was young, these two people sparked my passion for cows and could talk for hours and hours about cows with me.
Don Aylsworth was a mentor, a friend and a Role Model, he was so good to me growing up, since Ive herd the news that Don passed I have taken the time to hear stories of Don, and reflect on my many memories with him.
Our relationship with Don Started before i could even walk, here are a few Memories of Don and how he impacted “Donnaville Holsteins” my family and myself.
April 13th 2000- Don came for a routine classification, my mom took him around the barn, at this time we only scored 1st calvers and the odd cow my parents liked. Don scored the last 2 year old and mom said, that was all of them. Don asked about a cow they had walked by “what about her” he said, she went 85 that day, which was pretty good for the herd then! Donnaville Prelude Whisper was the Cow. Whisper had a Rudolph daughter who impacted our herd that Don later helped us breed from, Donnaville Rudolph Silence VG 85 was a herd favourite I remember her as the oldest cow in the barn. Silence has had over 20 descendants in our herd that have not been the best cows but solid durable and milky. Don made every mating on this family and she became our foundation cow for many years.
Don became our mating program specialist and Semen Sales rep, Dad had enough confidence in Don to deal %100 only with him. Don built our herd from 2003-2015 until he retired from cogent and only sold a few bulls from browndale, which we still purchased a few through the passed years.
Ever since I was young I have had a passion for cows and genetics, Don was someone I could talk his ear off all day without getting sick of listening to me. for many years Don would call up twice a year and plan a day to do a mating program with me along side, he never did it without me! We looked at every single cow in the barn, he would ask me what I liked and didn’t like about her, and what kind of bull we needed to use to improve her, he taught me how to pick a cow apart from a very young age.
My favourite memory of all was on Christmas Eve (2008 i believe) Don pulled into the barn, he called the house and mom handed me the phone. Don told me he had something for me and to come out to the barn, when I got to the barn Don handed me what seamed like a massive box at the time, I opened it, and I was amazed I thought it was a huge toy cow! A massive upgrade from my carpet farm plastic cows, Don bought me a True type Model for Christmas! I played with that cow for hours and admired how perfect it was! This kind gesture became more and more sentimental as years went on, the first time I saw them online and found out it certainly wasent a cheap gift, it then sat on a sheld where I couldn’t scratch or break her. I still have this model on a shelf in my room and will cherish it forever and remember Don every time I see it.
Don Always picked my 4-H calves, we looked through all of the Calves we had and at the end of the day we picked one together, some years my parents would buy me a calf, when we got her home from the EOWQ Spring Calf Sale at Fawcett’s I would call don and tell him what we bought! He would always come out the first of the week, we would look at her and he would ask me what I liked about her, what her faults were, and the parts of her pedigree that we liked.
When don started in our herd, the herd would have been 15% 83 pts and better, because of Dons Mating Decisions and buying in some cows to impact our herd we are now 85% GP 83 and better because of the Foundation Don helped put into our herd, and the advice he always gave us.
I was lucky enough to see Don 2 Weeks ago for our last walk through the herd together, I wish I had know it would be the last time I would have seen Don, and the last time I’d ever buy a Bull from him, I asked Don how he was health wise, and he had said he had felt the best he had in years, I am thankful to know that Don passed peacefully and happy.
Thank you for being one of my Biggest Mentors and Role models Don, I will miss our cow talk and all of the impacts you had on my life
You were a Great Friend
Mel O’Shea shares:
We always enjoyed classification day, but Don’s last trip to Frontenac was especially exciting for Sunny Plains!
Dad’s favourite cow Sunny Plains Pudding (Skychief) was eligible to go Excellent. Having missed getting the EX on the mid round, Pudding was VG85 (which Don had given her as a 2yr old) I will always remember Dad saying “she’s been waiting for you Don” when it was Pudding’s turn to be evaluated. My first 4H calf, Sunny Plains Becky (Jed) also went EX that day. This was Don’s retirement tour and I think these two ended up being his last EX cows. It was a great day for all three of us as one of Tracey’s favourites and former 4H projects Sunny Plains Pecan (Progress) went VG87 as a 2 yr that day!
After his retirement we always enjoyed visits from Don. There was always lots to learn and laughs to be had. He and Dad would often chat ringside at our 4H shows.
In 2006, having had a successful conformation year in 4H Dad asked Don to help find me a project for the upcoming year. While touring for consignments for the annual Eastern Ontario 4H sale, we bumped into Don at the Pen Farm, and Don told Dad he had a couple leads and would stop in the next day to discuss the options. Little did Don know that instead of talking about my 4H project the next day, he would instead find himself driving our family behind the ambulance taking Dad to the hospital where he later passed away. I remember being in the family room at the hospital and Don was there hugging Tracey and I – it was an awful day for all of us.
Not long after, Don called me and asked me if I was still looking for a calf. I said I still wanted to show and he said “well I’m gonna get you the best damn calf I can find”. The spring of 2006 Don had gone to PEI for the Opportunity East Sale – soon after the sale I got a couple “Congratulations” texts while at school. This was back in the T9 days so I didn’t respond because I had no idea why I was getting these messages. Then Don called and he said “Congratulations you and I are part owners in the sale topper from today’s sale”. I still didn’t believe it until I saw my name in print in the Holstein Journal the next month 
… Ian Fraser Gleneil Dundee Bo Lucky (never a more appropriately named project, as both of us were pretty darn lucky that year) I had a dynamite year!! She went on to be my first All-Ontario 4H nominated project.
… Ian Fraser Gleneil Dundee Bo Lucky (never a more appropriately named project, as both of us were pretty darn lucky that year) I had a dynamite year!! She went on to be my first All-Ontario 4H nominated project.Don’s determination to help me graduate 4H continued with our partnership’s next (and last) purchase, Hendercroft Holsteins Hendercroft Chapter Sunyside who would be my 2007 4H project.
In my final 4H year, Don was instrumental in helping me choose a calf as he and I had a hot debate (full of laughs of course) when I had the luxury of choosing between 2 heifers at Sunrest for my final year. (Sandy Thomson)
Don was not only a partner in my animal purchases but he did his best to be at every show, coaching and talking me through our feeding and management plan as Dad would have done. I am so thankful that these animals brought us together and I got to learn from one of the best!
It took a village so I could show after Dad was gone – but I definitely couldn’t have done it without Don. Our recent visits were limited to Frontenac show – and I will miss them greatly, but Dad will be excited to talk cows with him again!
If desired, donations to the 4H Association in Don’s memory would be appreciated by his family.
Due to the present Covid danger, there will be no visitation. If desired, condolences and donations may be made at www.wartmanfuneralhomes.com.
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Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Donald Arthur Aylsworth Monday May 10th 2021
