Donald was born to Mabel Battise and Boston Obe on December 17, 1940 in Elton, Louisiana and was of the Beaver Clan.  He graduated from Jefferson Davis High School in Houston, Texas and went on to complete an associate degree after attending classes at Angelina College in Lufkin, Texas and McNeese University in Lake Charles, Louisiana.

Donald served in the United States Airforce from 1961-1965, handling all aircraft technical supplies and parts for at least 16 aircrafts of the military and received an honorable discharge.  He came back to Houston to work for RBM Enterprises and various machine shops.  Donald also worked for ODECO as a roughneck and rotary worker on the drilling floor, as well as Exxon Company USA as a maintenance specialist working on flowlines, pipeline leaks, and tested oil wells in the field.  With his extensive knowledge in the oil and gas industry, Donald worked in various oilfields in Schwab City, Village Mills, Hawkins, and Conroe, Texas.  He then worked for the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe in minerals management, interpreting drilling reports and lease and pipeline agreements.  He went on to work part-time as a road planner at the Tribe, then switched his career to work as an employment coordinator at Coushatta Casino Resort in Kinder, Louisiana.  Later, Donald became the Alabama-Coushatta Smoke Shop manager in 2000, finally retiring as Vice Chairman for the Board of Gaming Regulators for Naskila Casino.

Donald was always an advocate for Native American rights and was a proud member of the American Indian Movement.  His strong will for advocacy spoke through his work at the Alabama-Coushatta and Coushatta Tribes.  He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and uncle who cared deeply for his family.  He always supported his children and grandchildren at ballgames and powwows and loved cooking for family gatherings.    He was an artist in his own right and was proud his sons followed his footsteps in Native American artwork.

Donald passed away peacefully in his home on August 23, 2024.  He is preceded in death by his parents, his step-father Miller Battise, sons Ronald King Obe and Darren Wayne Obe, grandson Tallsun John Obe, sisters Mary Obe Williams, Leila Obe Battise, Ora Obe Williams, Irene Obe Stafford, brothers Lee Jenkins Obe and McKinley Obe, son-in-law Clint Poncho, sister-in-law Nellie Marie Sylestine.

He is survived by his wife Anna Lou Obe of Livingston, daughter Yolanda Obe Poncho of Livingston, grandsons Colden Hawk Poncho of Livingston, Shaundai Ne-ta Poncho and fiancé Brittany Taylor of Tulsa, Oklahoma, Darren Wayne Obe, Jr. of Livingston, granddaughter Sequoia Wind Obe of Livingston, and great granddaughter Miwa-Xuba Joyce Poncho of Tulsa, Oklahoma, Daughter-in-law Lynn Obe of Livingston,  sister-in-law Jennifer Poncho of Livingston,  sister-in-law Melinda Sylestine and husband Dedera Sylestine, stepbrother-in-law Roland Poncho and wife Delores.

Pallbearers are Colden Hawk Poncho, Darren Obe Jr., Shaundai Poncho, Bryan Williams, Chad Alec, Kinney Alec, Nathan Williams, and Dane Williams.

Honorary Pallbearers are Gary Robinson, Timmy Zonk Langley, Dana Williams, Joe Thomas, Jr., Bradley Williams, Jack Langley, Floyd Poncho, Stewart Poncho, Hayman Roger Austin, Jerry Langley, and Ronnie Thomas.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Cochran Funeral Home of Livingston, Texas.