Donald C. Durham, son of the late Arthur Leroy Durham and Goldie Loveless Durham, was born on November 10, 1938, in Elk Township, Stoddard County, Missouri, and departed this life on September 17, 2022, at Southeast Health in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, at the age of 83 years.
Mr. Durham had worked for Hester’s Packing Company from 1956 to 1972 and for Cotton Belt Railroad from 1972 to 2002, where his co-workers called him “dumplin”. He was a member of the First Assembly of God Church in Dexter, Missouri, and a resident of Bernie, Missouri. He enjoyed deer hunting and taking care of his fish pond, and he loved mowing yards and spending time with his grandkids, and riding his John Deere Gator. Don was known to give the boots off his feet for individuals in need.
On May 9, 1956, in Tunica, Mississippi, he was united in marriage to Marlin Hillyard. Mrs. Durham survives of their home in Bernie.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by his daughter, Beckie Combs and husband Randall of Alton, Missouri; by his son, Jan McGowan of Bernie, Missouri; by his brother, Kenneth Durham and wife Sharon of Bernie, Missouri; by four sisters, Beatrice Mae Baldwin of Fenton, Missouri, Jenny Parmley of Fenton, Missouri, Mildred Adams and husband Paul of McKinney, Texas, and Mary Lou Giddings of Dexter, Missouri; by four grandchildren, Jeremy Don McGowan and wife Myra, Joshua McGowan and wife Tara, Ashley Stiles and husband Brett, and Austin Combs; and by nine great-grandchildren, Hailey Pipkins and husband Jaden, Jaden McGowan and wife Saelem, Mallory Rodgers, Karsten McGowan, Oakleigh McGowan, Sophia Combs, Audrey Stiles, Hendrick Stiles, and Madison Stiles.
Other than by his parents, he was preceded in death by his daughter, Diana McGowan; by two great-grandchildren, Paxton McGowan and Josten McGowan; and by his father-in-law and mother-in-law, W.C. and Mamie Hillyard.
Visitation will be held at the First Assembly of God Church in Dexter on Tuesday, September 20, 2022, from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m.
Funeral services will then be conducted at the First Assembly of God on Wednesday, September 21, 2022, at 11:00 a.m. with Rev. Dale Jones, Rev. Ed Shirrell, Rev. Loyd Maddox and Rev. Richard Harris officiating.
Interment will follow in the Bernie Cemetery in Bernie, Missouri.
Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter is assisting with arrangements.
