Donald Gene Ussery Sr.

December 14, 1935 - August 22, 2016

Donald Gene Ussery, Sr., age 80, of Gravois Mills, Missouri, passed away Monday, August 22, 2016, at Capital Region Medical Center in Jefferson City, Missouri. Donald was born on December 14, 1935, in Kansas City, Missouri, the first of three children to Issac Sylvester Ussery and Edna Pearl (Driver) Ussery, both of Kansas City, Missouri. Donald attended a rural school in Sweet Springs, Missouri and worked as a mechanic for most of his adult life. His passion for drag racing evolved into a passion for boat racing. He eventually moved to the Lake of the Ozarks, began a new business called “Ussery’s Marine Service” and traveled throughout the United States to participate in racing events with his boat, “Dad’s Toy.” Donald was preceded in death by his father, Issac Sylvester Ussery, his mother, Edna Pearl (Driver) Ussery, his two sisters, Shirley and Shelly, his step-mother, Amy Imajean (Barker) Ussery, a son, Donald Gene (Butch) Ussery, Jr. of Kaiser, Missouri and a daughter, Denise Renee (Ussery) Richardson of Selma, California. Donald is survived by his sons, Donald Gene Ussery Evans, Jr. of Sedalia, Missouri and William Gene Ussery of Gravois Mills, Missouri; his daughters, Deborah Kayleen (Ussery) Russell and husband Kenneth of Bakersfield, California, Jeannie Marie (Ussery) Bramwell and husband Bryon of Warrensburg, Missouri, Donna Rose (Ussery) Reed of Tonganoxie, Kansas, Tacy Louise (Ussery) Keller and husband Michael of Dayton, Ohio and Edna Marie (Ussery) Delcoure and husband Charles of Tulsa, Oklahoma and their children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren and numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, other relatives and close friends. Later in his life, Donald was united in marriage to Pamela Kay (Walters) Ussery, on February 14, 1992, in Miami, Oklahoma. They reaffirmed their wedding vows at the United Methodist Church in Gravois Mills, Missouri, on July 5, 1992. Pamela preceded Donald in death on August 6, 2016. Donald loved them all, and they all loved him. He will be missed by all who knew him. A celebration of life for Donald Gene Ussery, Sr., will be conducted by Pastor Lynn Facemyer at the United Methodist Church in Gravois Mills, Missouri, on Saturday, September 17, 2016. Visitation will be held from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and the celebration of life service will begin at 12:00 p.m. The time and place of inurnment will be announced at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to Donald Ussery at 30008 Proctor Road, Gravois Mills, Missouri 65037, to help cover funeral expenses. Cremation arrangements were under the direction and care of the Kidwell-Garber Funeral Home of Versailles. Funeral arrangements were under the direction of Donald’s family and Dr. Gary Rex Walters.