Donald E. Childress

Donald E. Childress 84, of Smithville, MO passed away September 27,2012 at home.

Don was born on March 15, 1928 to Roy and Velma Era (Bailey) Childress in Coffeyville, KS. He grew up and worked on a dairy farm in Parsons, KS. Don attended high school and two years of college at Parsons Junior College where he played basketball and graduated. He then attended Kansas State University in Manhattan , KS and later transferred to Pittsburg State University in Pittsburg, KS where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting.

As a young man Don enjoyed golfing, fishing, and spending time flying in his spare time. He was employed at National Gypsum at the Kansas Army Ammunition Plant as an accountant until 1957. On July 17, 1955 he was united in marriage to Rosalee Ella Lincicome. They resided in Parsons, KS until November of 1957, then moved to Gladstone, MO where he and his wife Rosalee raised four children. Don was employed by Farmland Industries in North Kansas City, MO for 17 years. In 1975 the family moved to Houston, TX where Don worked for Occidental Petroleum for a short period. They retuned to Gladstone, MO, and in 1986 they moved to rural Platte County where they made their home. In 1993 Don retired from Nelson-Weatherite in Lenexa, KS after 18 years of employment.

Throughout Don’s life he was an advid gardener and enjoyed landscaping . He was a devoted husband, family man and enjoyed his grandchildren. Don was a man of deep faith and brought his children up in church. .

Donald is survived by his wife, Rosalee, daughter Linda Childress of Kansas City, daughter Mary O’Dell and husband Chuck of Tulsa, OK, daughter Donna Million and husband Neil of Tarkio, MO, and son James Childress of Smithville, MO; seven grandchildren, Michael Davis and wife Dawn, Michelle Kentch and husband David, Clint O’Dell and wife Becca, Andrea Lopez and husband Wes, Angela Meek, Ashley Million, and Jessie O’Dell; and two great grandchildren, Abbie O’Dell and Brynleigh Lopez.

Funeral service for Don will be held on Monday, October 1, at 11:00 am at the Family Worship Center in Smithville, MO with visitation one hour prior to the service. Burial will be at Oak Ridge Memory Gardens in Independence, MO at 2:30 pm. Memorials may be directed to the Family Worship Center. Services are under the direction of Hixson-Klein Funeral Home, Smithville.