Donald
Donald R. Ellison
Donald Ray “Red” Ellison, 84, of Sedalia, passed away Thursday, January 26, 2017.
He was born June 5, 1932 to Lolita Beatrice and James Ellison in the “Round Hill” area in Tipton, MO. He was the third child of nine siblings. He graduated from Otterville High School in 1951. He went to work at Pittsburg Corning the night after graduation and worked there for 40 years.
On February 28, 1952 he was united in marriage to Mary Fry in Flippen, Arkansas. Later that year he was drafted into the United States Army, 7
th
Cavalry, Heavy Weapons Division. He was stationed in Okito, Japan.
Mary and Donald were blessed with eight children: Vincil Ray Ellison, Linda Alcorn (Gayle), Randy Ellison, Sandra Jensen (David), Cindy Woolery (Doug), Rusty Ellison (Stacy), Donna Rowland (Brad), and William Ellison. He has thirteen grandchildren: Jeremy, Jason, Michael, Michelle, Amanda, Jenna, Jessica, Ryan, Travis, Rachel, Brady, Leah, Willa; and eleven great grandchildren. He is also survived by siblings, Jo Ann Tye, Jimmy Ellison, Charlie Ellison, Carol Sue Lurten and Russell Ellison.
Donald loved spending time with his children and grandchildren. His last words to them were, “I’m sure glad I have you kids. I don’t know what I’d do without you.” He also enjoyed hunting quail and rabbits, fishing, and always raised an amazing garden. He sold cantaloupe, watermelon, and corn for years at 16
th
and Ingram in Sedalia. He loved watching baseball, so much that he sometimes would watch a game and listen to another on the radio. Donald hated the cold and would begin looking at seed catalogs and planning his garden in January to help him get through the winter.
Donald was a member of Bethlehem Baptist Church near Florence. He was also a member of VFW Post 2591, the American Legion, and was a former member of the Moose Lodge.
He is preceded in death by his parents; brother, Bill Ellison; sister, Nelly Pohl; and brother Lawrence Jewel Ellison; his beloved Grandma Davis and Aunt Alice Klein.
Services will be held 1:30 p.m. Monday, January 30, at Heckart Funeral Home, with Jeff Page officiating.
Pallbearers will be James Ellison, Charlie Ellison, Russell Ellison, Brad Rowland, David Jensen, and Doug Woolery.
Burial will directly follow services at Mt. Herman Cemetery, with full military honors by the United States Army and VFW Post 2591. His grandson Brady Rowland will play TAPS.
The family will receive friends from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. Sunday, January 29, at Heckart Funeral Home.
Memorial contributions may be given for the family to buy books for children.
He was born June 5, 1932 to Lolita Beatrice and James Ellison in the “Round Hill” area in Tipton, MO. He was the third child of nine siblings. He graduated from Otterville High School in 1951. He went to work at Pittsburg Corning the night after graduation and worked there for 40 years.
On February 28, 1952 he was united in marriage to Mary Fry in Flippen, Arkansas. Later that year he was drafted into the United States Army, 7
th
Cavalry, Heavy Weapons Division. He was stationed in Okito, Japan.
Mary and Donald were blessed with eight children: Vincil Ray Ellison, Linda Alcorn (Gayle), Randy Ellison, Sandra Jensen (David), Cindy Woolery (Doug), Rusty Ellison (Stacy), Donna Rowland (Brad), and William Ellison. He has thirteen grandchildren: Jeremy, Jason, Michael, Michelle, Amanda, Jenna, Jessica, Ryan, Travis, Rachel, Brady, Leah, Willa; and eleven great grandchildren. He is also survived by siblings, Jo Ann Tye, Jimmy Ellison, Charlie Ellison, Carol Sue Lurten and Russell Ellison.
Donald loved spending time with his children and grandchildren. His last words to them were, “I’m sure glad I have you kids. I don’t know what I’d do without you.” He also enjoyed hunting quail and rabbits, fishing, and always raised an amazing garden. He sold cantaloupe, watermelon, and corn for years at 16
th
and Ingram in Sedalia. He loved watching baseball, so much that he sometimes would watch a game and listen to another on the radio. Donald hated the cold and would begin looking at seed catalogs and planning his garden in January to help him get through the winter.
Donald was a member of Bethlehem Baptist Church near Florence. He was also a member of VFW Post 2591, the American Legion, and was a former member of the Moose Lodge.
He is preceded in death by his parents; brother, Bill Ellison; sister, Nelly Pohl; and brother Lawrence Jewel Ellison; his beloved Grandma Davis and Aunt Alice Klein.
Services will be held 1:30 p.m. Monday, January 30, at Heckart Funeral Home, with Jeff Page officiating.
Pallbearers will be James Ellison, Charlie Ellison, Russell Ellison, Brad Rowland, David Jensen, and Doug Woolery.
Burial will directly follow services at Mt. Herman Cemetery, with full military honors by the United States Army and VFW Post 2591. His grandson Brady Rowland will play TAPS.
The family will receive friends from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. Sunday, January 29, at Heckart Funeral Home.
Memorial contributions may be given for the family to buy books for children.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Donald R. Ellison, please visit our flower store.
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