Carl Donn Rawlings died peacefully in Prescott, Arizona, on June 23, 2023. Donn was born in Libby, Montana, on June 24, 1937, the fourth child and only son of Carl Denzel Rawlings and Margaret Hunter Rawlings. Donn grew up on the family ranch near Libby and in the wild, mountainous country surrounding it. In his last two years of high school, he moved with his parents to Big Fork, Montana, on Flathead Lake. His love of being outdoors continued throughout his life.
Donn earned his B.A. degree from Antioch College in Yellow Springs, Ohio. The college not only nurtured his intellectual interests and scholarly ambitions, but through its unusual work /study program it gave him a wide variety of work experiences, such as living in a small Mexican village, being a New York Times copy boy, and working on a brewery farm in Austria. Donn continued his education at the University of Washington in Seattle, from which he received a PhD in English literature. It was there that he met his wife, Carol, a fellow grad student. In 1966 Donn accepted an assistant professorship in the University of Denver English Department, where he taught 15 years. Then for four years he directed the Counseling Department at Loretto Heights College in Denver. During these years, Donn and Carol spent much time hiking and camping in the mountains of Colorado and New Mexico and the canyon country of southern Utah. Whenever they could, they explored the West on driving trips, a habit they continued until a few years ago. They also pursued cultural interests such as visiting art museums and galleries and attending operas and chamber-music concerts.
Donn and Carol moved to Prescott, Arizona, 1985, a decision they continued to rejoice in. Donn was a Division Chairman and English Department faculty member at Yavapai College until his retirement in 2001.
In Prescott, Donn quickly became active in environmental issues. He was on the conservation committee of Prescott Audubon and also served as the chapter’s president for two years. He helped found Granite Mountain Action, and after retirement he was on the board of the Central Arizona Land Trust for a few years.
Donn had a great passion for the Grand Canyon. He hiked there whenever he could, often backpacking for days at a time in the canyon back country, either with friends or solo. He also made five or six raft trips through the canyon. Several years into his retirement, Donn decided to try something completely unfamiliar and began taking art classes at Yavapai College. He quickly discovered the art of printmaking and became an accomplished and imaginative printmaker.
Donn was preceded in death by his parents, his three sisters, Peggy Hamann, Barbara Powell, and Sue Hotzel, and his niece, Teresa Hamann. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Carol Rawlings, and several nieces, nephews, and cousins. Arrangements were entrusted to Heritage Memory Mortuary.
Information provided by the family.
