Donald 'Don' Eugene Boykin

Donald Eugene “Don” Boykin, son of the late Everett and Nicie (Sloan) Boykin, was born on May 14, 1928 in Dawson, Missouri, and departed this life on September 11, 2012 in the Cox Medical Center in Springfield, Missouri, following a short illness. He was 84 years, 3 months, and 27 days of age.
Don grew up in Graff, Missouri, on a small farm where his dad owned a garage on Highway 38.
On December 24, 1947, at the age of nineteen, Don was united in marriage to Zelpha Wilson in Little Rock, Arkansas. Four children were born to this union. They moved to a farm between Bendavis and Graff to care for family. They made their home on the farm before moving their family in 1963 to the Dawson Community, where Don worked in the garage and Zelpha tended to the store.
Don was a welder, along with being a mechanic, working on bulldozers, backhoes and other vehicles. Many of Don’s friends would stop by the garage on most days, just to visit or have a cup of coffee.
Don was also a school bus driver for many years.
In his later years, Don loved going to the Beaver Creek pay lake, where he would enjoy a good catfish dinner with his family and friends.
He was a kind and caring husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend. He loved his family very much and looked forward to spending time with them and visiting with his friends. He will be truly missed by those who knew and loved him.
Don enjoyed attending services at the Crossroads of Faith Church as long as his health permitted.
Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by one brother: John Boykin; two sisters: Helen Hutsell and Louise Corder; and by a son: Michael Boykin.
He is survived by his loving wife of sixty-four years: Zelpha Boykin of their home; two sons: Buck Boykin and Roger Boykin of Mtn. Grove; two daughters: Lavonda Eaton and her husband, Glen, of Mtn. Grove, and Brenda Stoops and her husband, Chris, of Houston, Missouri; seven grandchildren: Alisa Freeman, Aaron Smith, Jamie Green, Courtney Boykin, Stephanie Bain and her husband, Justin, Nick Eaton, and Garrett Eaton; four great-grandchildren: Brandon Freeman, Taylor Reed, Dylan Reed, and Ryleigh Bain; several nieces and nephews; great-nieces and great-nephews; and a host of other relatives and friends.


Funeral Service: Friday,
September 14, 2012

at 10:00 AM in the Crossroads
of Faith Church.



Visitation: Thursday,

September 13th from 6:00 PM

to 8:00 PM in the funeral home.



Burial: Friendship Cemetery



Memorial Contributions: Friendship Cemetery
c/o the funeral home.