Rawhide Memorial Ranch Days is a ranching event, that will take place in Sonoma County California each year. “Rawhide’s” family created the idea of this event during a great time of sorrow. Donald “Rawhide” Reece was a true cowboy legend. After his unexpected passing, his family wanted to find a way to honor him and his cowboy legacy. His family felt it was important to keep his ‘work hard, play hard’ attitude alive. Rawhide was a family man, so this event offers opportunities for the entire family.

AKA “Rawhide”

January 31st, 1951 - March 30th, 2022

Donald Dean Reece, known to many as “Rawhide”, was born January 31, 1951 in Santa Barbara, California and died March 30, 2022 in Springfield, Missouri. Don was laid to rest with his family by his side at the Missouri Veterans Cemetery Fort Leonard Wood. He was preceded in death by his parents, Harold and Neoma Ruth Reece, and his youngest sister Leita Reece. 

Don’s family that are left behind to continue his legacy are his children Adam (Christine) Reece of Tucson, Arizona, Jennifer Ealand of Rohnert Park, California, John Reece, Buck (Carla) Reece of Petaluma, California, and Jamie (Kevin) Glaze of La Grange, California; his two sisters; Donna (Willard) Perryman and Wanda Reece of Lebanon, Missouri; his twelve cherished grandchildren: Cheyenne, Jessalyn, Mark, Samantha, Butch, Cassidy, Peyton, Dakota, Aubrey, Justin, Lane, and Loretta and his great-granddaughter Paisley. He is survived by many other beloved nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends. 

Don was one of a kind. He was a man of faith. He always had a story to tell and a lesson to teach. He was kind and humble to all whom he came across;no one was a stranger. One of Don’s teachings was your handshake is a sign of respect. So look the person in the eye and hold firm;make sure they remember your handshake. His handshake was a reflection of his personality:strong, sincere, and honorable. Socializing was a strength for Don and his smile was contagious, in spite of the fact that it was partially hidden by his trademark “chops”.  Don enjoyed being in his saddle, working with cattle, going fishing, riding his side by side, and roping calves. Don was fond of his rope and loved the “houlihan”. He had a unique way with animals; and recognized the importance of a good horse and a good working dog. As a child Don learned the trade of woodworking which became a hobby in adulthood. As an adolescent Don participated in FFA. After high school Don joined the Forest Service for a brief period. His appreciation for a good horse, a string of mules, and living off the land was magnified during this time. Some of his favorite stories were of his time “in the back country”. He entered into the United States Air Force at age eighteen and was stationed at Vandenberg Air Force base and Okinawa, Japan. He served his country proudly for four years. Upon his return he reentered the Forest Service where he packed mules in the winter and fought fires on the hot shot crew in the summer. Don did this before he started his journey as a ranch cowboy. He worked at Rancho San Fernando Rey in the Santa Inez Valley. Don liked to work hard and play hard. His free time was often spent at a local team penning event. In 1990 he moved his family to Petaluma to the Triangle G Ranch where he became the ranch manager. There was no doubt that Don was a family man. He had the utmost respect for his last name and instilled that pride in his children. He worked hard to provide for his family. When Don was not working on the mountain, he was at one of his children’s sporting events. He worked at Triangle G Ranch for twenty six years until his retirement. Don lived his retired days in Phillipsburg, Missouri where he worked part time at the Mid Missouri Stockyards. Don was a legend in his own right and his memory will live on through many.