Donald W. Otto

Donald W. Otto, 80, of Navasota, passed away peacefully on December 22 at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Bryan, surrounded by his wife and children. Don was born on December 30, 1944, in El Campo, Texas, to Elo and Isabel (Martinets) Otto. He grew up with a sister and two brothers in the Garden Oaks neighborhood of Houston.

A proud St. Thomas High School Eagle, Don graduated in 1963 and received a Congressional appointment to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. A medical honorable discharge cut his service academy time short, and he returned to Houston to work full-time while attending night school at the University of Houston. He graduated in 1968 with a bachelor’s degree in accounting and became a CPA in 1971. Don worked as a Tax Manager with Arthur Andersen & Co. and later as Director of Taxes for Weatherford International Inc., before starting his own CPA firm in 1977.

In January 1970, a blind date with Priscilla Jane Dyer altered the course of his life. They were married on December 27, 1970, in Navasota and made their first home together in Houston. In 1974, the couple welcomed their first son, Edward Lee Otto, whom they tragically lost to cancer as an infant. They were later blessed with the birth of their daughter, Nancy Jane, in 1976, and their son, William, in 1979. In 1987, Don and Priscilla relocated their family to Navasota, a community they would proudly call home for the remainder of his life.

Through life’s blessings, setbacks, and profound loss, Don was drawn into a deep and personal faith in Jesus Christ. Grounded in that faith, he lived with strong conviction and relied on Scripture for guidance and strength, viewing both joy and hardship through the steady lens of God’s providence. That faith was the bedrock of his marriage to Priscilla, marked by unwavering faithfulness, fidelity, and a lifelong commitment to honor and cherish her. Together, they nurtured a bond that deepened over the decades, growing stronger in both love and their shared walk with God.

Don served as an elder at Grace Presbyterian Church in Houston and at First Presbyterian Church in Navasota. Later in life, he joined First Baptist Church of Navasota, where he was baptized at the age of 78. His deep and abiding faith sustained him through many trials, including the challenges he faced after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2018.

Brilliant and methodical, Don was a natural problem solver whose determination and work ethic defined his professional life. Through his careful counsel and steadfast integrity, countless clients achieved lasting financial stability and success. Clients often became lifelong friends, and he quietly provided tax services at no cost to those in need—never seeking recognition for his generosity. In the latter years of his career, Don was instrumental in guiding multiple companies through successful initial public offerings.

Don was a member of the American Institute of CPAs and the Texas Society of CPAs. He served as President of the Navasota Economic Development Council, was appointed to President George W. Bush’s Economic Council, and served as president of both the Diane Moore Foundation and the Navasota Police Activities League. He also served as a City Councilman and Mayor of Navasota in the late 1990s. Don served as a board member of the Grimes County Chamber of Commerce, Ducks Unlimited, and Navasota Young Life.

Don especially enjoyed fly fishing in the streams of southern Colorado and spending summers at his cabin, “Red Top,” near Creede. He loved piloting his Cessna 182, hunting, reading, cooking, barbecuing for friends and family, old westerns, and watching movies with his grandchildren.

A man of few words, Don was also known for his sharp and generous sense of humor. He used it to lift the spirits of those around him and carried it with him to the very end—always ready with a one-liner for a nurse or a playful tease for a grandchild.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his infant son. Don is survived by his loving wife of 55 years, Priscilla; his children, Nancy Jane McMillan and her husband Chad of Whitehall, and William Otto and his wife Tara of Bryan; his grandchildren, Campbell, Finley, Jude, and Mary Ann Otto, and Chase, Julia, Bobby, and Charlie McMillan; as well as his sister, Linda Marmaduke, and his brothers, Glen and Ricky Otto, all of Houston. He is also survived by countless friends and extended family.

Remembrances can be made through contributions to the Diane Moore Legacy Foundation, (benefitting Navasota Young Life), 414 Hickman, Boerne, TX 78006 or the Houston Pregnancy Help Center, 3636 San Jacinto, Houston, Texas, 77004.