Obituary of Donald Eugene Reeves

Donald Eugene Reeves, age 84, of Richmond, Kansas, passed away on Monday, December 10, 2018, at Richmond Healthcare in Richmond, Kansas.

He was born on August 11, 1934, in Bucklin, Kansas, the son of Emery and Elsie (Caldwell) Reeves.  He grew up in El Dorado Springs, Missouri, graduating from high school there.  Don enlisted in the U.S. Navy because they did not have neckties. While in the Navy he served on submarines as a submarine sonar tech and a nuclear power plant operator.  Don was united in marriage to Arbutus Gibbons in 1956, their union was blessed with seven children, they later divorced.  Following his time in the Navy they lived in the Dallas area, where Don worked as a transportation specialist.  He later moved to Kansas where he also worked as a painter.  Don later married Shirley Merscham Walters in 1975.  Shirley had four children of her own that joined Don’s family.  They later divorced.  Don was a member of the Painter’s Union, Local 229, retiring in 1995.  Don enjoyed gardening; he delighted in raising the oddest of vegetables.  He loved the outdoors, especially hunting and fishing.  Don took pride in reloading his own ammo.  He was a dog lover and a pyrotechnic “specialist” for the family Fourth of July celebrations.

Don was preceded in death by his parents; and four brothers, Cletis, Jerle, Kenneth and James Reeves.

He is survived by his seven children,  Carmen and Launce Kramer of Lower Salem, Ohio, Carla Nichols of Lawrence, Kansas, Robin and Steve Button of Fort Scott, Kansas, Pamela Oswald of DeSoto, Kansas, Arbie and Mark Winter of Ottawa, Kansas, Isaac and Roxanne Reeves of Ottawa, Kansas, and Serena and Richard Whitehead of Fort Worth, Texas; four stepchildren, Mike and Patty Walters of Ottawa, Kansas, Robin Coy of Richmond, Kansas, Terry Walters, and  Billy Walters, both of Virginia Beach, Virginia; 31 grandchildren; 47 great grandchildren; two brothers, Merle and Doris Reeves of White Salmon, Washington and Curtis Reeves of Ottawa, Kansas; and two sisters Janet and Bob Bouse of Wellsville, Kansas and Juanita and Dennis Shay of Linn Valley, Kansas.

Graveside services will be held at 11:00 A.M., Saturday, December 15, 2018, at the Hazel Dell Cemetery, 6675 E. 500 Road, El Dorado Springs, Missouri 64744.  The family will greet friends from 2:00 to 4:00 P.M., Friday afternoon at the Feuerborn Family Funeral Service Chapel, 219 S. Oak Street, Garnett, Kansas 66032.  Memorial contributions can be made to the Franklin County Cancer Foundation and left in care of the funeral home.  Condolences may be sent to the family at www.feuerbornfuneral.com.