Donald Lam died February 17‚ 2011‚ from injuries sustained in September 2010 while clearing a fire break during a wildfire. He was a dedicated forest ranger technician and experienced wildland firefighter who had assisted with fire suppression efforts on the local‚ state‚ and national level for nearly 12 years.

He was born December 7‚ 1952‚ in Marion‚ Illinois‚ a son of the late Donald Ray and Rose Marie Baker Lam. He was a U.S. Navy veteran and a member of Cedar Bluff Baptist Church.

Survivors include his wife‚ Jeannie Swatzell Lam; a stepson‚ Dusty Cooper; a stepdaughter‚ Dakota Son; a brother and sister-in-law‚ Ronald and Brenda Lam; a nephew‚ Ethan Lam; and his father-in-law and mother-in-law‚ Kenneth and Brenda Swatzell.

He was my best friend‚ my loving husband. I met Don a few years back. He was a close friend to my first late husband. He was a logger‚ and my previous husband and Don were on several jobs together. My husband passed with cancer in 2008‚ and Don and I started dating one year later. We were married in 2009.

I was so lucky to have Don Lam in my life. He was a dedicated firefighter for twelve years‚ and loved it. He would always say‚ ‘I am going to get the big ones.’ referring to wild fires. He lived and died for wildfires.

When I lost Don‚ I truly lost it all. He was a kind‚ honest‚ and genuine man that truly loved his job. Heaven got a logger and a forest ranger in paradise. I miss him terribly‚ but I believe God sent Don Lam to my life at the right time‚ and I am truly blessed to have shared my life with him even though it was a short while.