Pat Pope
May 6, 2012
Donald Kirkpatrick Pope, 66, died 05-06-2012 in Reno Nevada - from the Reno Gazette
Donald Kirkpatrick Pope (1945 - 2012)
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Donald Kirkpatrick PopeDecember 18, 1945
Donald Kirpatrick Pope, attorney and chicken farmer extraordinaire, passed away on Sunday, May 6, 2012 at Renown Medical Center after suffering a severe stroke.
Don was born in Lakeport, CA on December 18, 1945 to Warren K. and Phyllis G. Pope. The family relocated to Moscow, Idaho in 1946. Don graduated from Moscow High School in 1964 and Standford University in 1968 with an honors degree in Economics. In 1973, Don graduated from Golden Gate University School of Law in San Francisco. After graduation, Don became a Vista Volunteer and moved to Reno and was one of the founding staff attorneys and later the Director of Nevada Indian Legal Services. While there, Don helped write the Tribal Law & Order Codes for the Nevada reservations. Thus began a long association with the Tribes of Nevada. In 1976, Don opened a private practice focusing in Tribal law, real estate, family law and criminal law.
In1984, Don was encouraged by his peers to enter judicial politics. He won his election and served as a Judge in Reno Justice Court from 1985 - 1993, after which he returned to private practice.
Don was preceded in death by his father, Warren, his mother, Phyllis, and step-mother, Virginia. He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth, his daughter, Allison (Scott), his grandson, Anderson, who was born the same day that Don passed away, and his son, Adam, a Marine Corps officer stationed in Quantico, Virginia. He is also survived by five brothers, Daniel, David, Douglas, Jeremiah, Robert and a sister, Carla Pope, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
Don leaves behind not only his family but many friends and clients about whom he cared deeply. Don loved raising chickens, collecting Honda lawnmowers, giving long answers to simple questions and teaching his kids how to do almost anything. He will be missed no end.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, June 9, 2012 at 1:00 PM at Sierra Bible Church, 3195 Everett Way, Reno, NV, 89503 with a reception following. In lieu of flowers, a donatioin in Don's name to www.worldvisiongifts.org will be appreciated.
Published in Reno Gazette-Journal from May 17 to June 7, 2012