Donovan "Don" Ames

Donovan Eugene Ames II, 79, a caring and passionate man, whose biggest loves were his family, friends and giving back to the community, who was known for his wit as well as his storytelling, passed away on Monday, June 29, 2026, after battling an acute illness.

Born in the Midwest in Canton, Ohio, Don was the second of three children of Donovan and Mary Ames. His family moved west to Albuquerque, N.M. when he was nine. He would go on to graduate from Sandia High School in 1964 where he served as student-body President as well as president of the Thespian Club. Don went on to study radio and television production at the University of New Mexico where he was a member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity and was a Disc Jockey for the campus radio station.

In 1967, he joined the U.S. Coast Guard and served for several years as a reserve. While serving as a reserve, Don began a career in marketing and sales with E.R. Moore which took him to several companies and locations across the United States.

He married Shelley Ames in 1968 and they recently celebrated their 58th Anniversary. He had two children, Chrissy Ames Lassiter and Aaron Ames. Don went on to build a successful career working for companies such as Cintas and Red Kap before becoming a founder and president of Unilink and Uniform Supply Alliance. He retired from Unilink in 2010.

While working for Unilink, Don began serving on the Hendersonville Planning Commission in 2002 while also being an active member of several civic organizations. He later became Ward 4 Hendersonville Alderman from 2012-16. Don was a member of the Board of Zoning and Appeals serving as chairman since 2018.

He was a 32-year member of the Hendersonville Rotary Club. He would serve in several leadership positions including President (2001-02) and Secretary. Don received the Rotarian of the Year, the Lifetime Distinguished Service Award in 2014-15, and the ST Womeldorf Paul Harris Fellow Award in 2022-2023.

Another of Don’s passions was the Recovery Court of Sumner County of which he was a founding member. He also served as a past president and was a board member from 2014 until his passing.

Other civic groups he served included Greater Nashville Regional Council on Aging and Disability, Leadership Sumner, Hendersonville Area Chamber of Commerce and was on the board of United Way of Sumner County.

In addition to his wife Shelley, Don is proud to be survived by his daughter Chrissy and her husband Gregory Lassister as well as son Aaron and his wife Cindy. Don had six grandkids. Chrissy and Greg had five kids Josh (Taylor), Matt (McCauley), Seth (Chloe), Graceanne (Charlie Kirkus) and Andrea (Dylan Rudd). Aaron and Cindy have one daughter Allison. Don has four great-grandchildren, Carson, Myles, Holland and Lucas, with another on the way.

Join us in celebrating Don’s amazing life at Hendersonville Memory Gardens with visitations on Sunday, July 12th from 4-7pm, Monday July 13th from 12-2:30 pm followed by the service at 2:30 pm at Community Church in Hendersonville. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you donate to the Recovery Court of Sumner County online at https://www.recoverycourt.com/donate or by mailing to 117 West Smith Street, Gallatin, TN 37077.