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| Donald Lee Foote |
Donald Lee Foote, 87, Archie, Missouri, died Saturday, July 9, 2016 at his home surrounded by his family. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, July 12, 2016 at the Atkinson Funeral Home in Archie, with visitation from 10:00-11:00. Burial will be in Crescent Hill Cemetery in Adrian, Missouri.
Donald was born February 4, 1929 on a farm west of Archie, Missouri. He was the oldest son of Homer and Blanche (Lawson) Foote. Donald grew up on a farm in the Archie community. He, his parents, and sister, worked to milk cows and farm their land. He loved to play basketball and was a member of one of the most successful high school basketball teams that played at Archie High School. Donald graduated from Archie High School in 1947.
Donald married Geraldine Noell on September 13, 1950 and divorced in 1970. To this union two children were born, Jeannette and Cindy. In 1951 Donald was critically burned while working on a road crew that was building US 71 highway. He credited the “new drug” called penicillin and Dr. Lusk who stayed with him 24 hours a day as the reason he was able to survive. After months and months in the hospital, he made the decision to follow his dream and become a farmer.
In the fall of 1961, they purchased a farm east of Archie that was bordered by the Grand River. Donald developed that land into a productive farm and served as the President of the Grand River Drainage Ditch Board for many years. On November 27, 1971, Donald married Georgia Wilburn. They farmed together until their retirement in 1991. They then moved to Warsaw, Missouri where they fished at their favorite spots on Truman Lake and enjoyed good neighbors and friends.
Donald loved to be outdoors. He thoroughly enjoyed fishing, hunting and gardening. In 2007, when their health became an issue, Donald and Georgia moved back to Archie to be near their families.
Donald was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, Wallace, and his wife, Georgia. He is survived by his two daughters, Jeannette Gwinn and husband, David, Lone Jack, Missouri, and Cindy Drury and husband, Rick, Archie, Missouri; four step-children, Vicki Yoakum, Topeka, Kansas, Terry Wilburn, Archie, Missouri, Christy Ogle, Archie, Missouri, and Randy Wilburn and wife, Cheri, Archie, Missouri; one sister, Janet Carroll, Adrian, Missouri; 3 grandchildren, Aaron Gwinn, Doug Drury, Molly (Benny) Palmer; one great-grandchild, Quinn Palmer; 9 step-grandchildren; 19 step-great-grandchildren, and many other relatives and friends.
