Donna A. Childress

Donna Arleen Childress passed away at home in Springfield, MO, September 23, 2023, with family surrounding her bed. She was 81 years old.

She is survived by her husband, Gary Childress, daughter, Shelly Eager and husband Tracy, son Shane Childress and wife Kimi, two grandchildren, Amanda Puckett and husband Josh, and Kyle Eager and wife Amanda, sister, Patricia Baker and husband Tellmo, brother Gary Grimsley and wife Tracy, four bonus great-grandchildren, Hayden, Grayson, Susanna Mae, and Sawyer, one great-grandson due in January, and many nieces and nephews.

Preceding her in death were her parents, Orville & Goldie Grimsley and daughter, Christy Ann Childress.

Donna was born in Kansas City on August 20, 1942, and raised in El Dorado Springs, MO. She was a four year cheerleader, editor of the 1960 yearbook, involved in many clubs, and a straight A student.

Donna met Gary while both worked at AT&T. She retired with 25 years' service in 1990. While still working at AT&T in 1975, she and Gary opened a retail outlet in the old Kansas City Mini-Mall on Highway 40. They soon expanded the business to Independence Center, Metro North Shopping Center, and Seville Square on the Plaza. Donna was a full business partner with Gary. They traveled on buying trips while using vacation from AT&T. The business sold leather jackets, handbags, footwear, attaches, wallets, and leather accessories. During the Urban Cowboy movie period they sold exotic boots made of boa constrictor, ostrich, water buffalo, and other leathers. They retired after 20 years in their mid-fifties to enjoy their fruits of labor.

Her hobbies included oil painting, scrapbooking, scuba diving, boating, water skiing, golfing, and roller skating the boardwalks of LA and San Diego.

In lieu of flowers you may donate to the Gary & Donna Childress Seymour Library Endowment Fund. The Community Foundation of the Ozarks (CFO) maintains the fund and accepts donations through the link at the bottom of the page.