1937
Donnel
2022
Donnel "Don" James
February 27, 1937 — May 4, 2022
Donnel D. “Don” James born on February 27, 1937, the son of Woodford and Mary L. James, and Chester “Jack” Sullivan, passed away on May 4, 2022, at home surrounded by his family.
He graduated from Higginsville High School in 1955. He served in the United States Army from 1955-58 where he served as a member of the Far East Command Honor Guard in Tokyo, Japan.
Don began a career in construction after returning home from the military, working for Sharp Brothers Contracting Company. He was a superintendent on many jobs including the Medical Science Building, a five story Botany Building, and he completed the addition to Farout Field at the University of Missouri in Columbia, Missouri. He built a three-story Prime Health Building, an eight-story doctor’s building on Troost, and the Kansas City Chief’s Stadium at the Sports Complex in Kansas City, Missouri. The Water Waste Treatment Plant in Carrolton, Missouri, and Aldi Food Distribution Center for Epstein International of Chicago were also among his many jobs. He ended his career as owner/operator of SJ Concrete LLC.
Don was a horse lover and a cattleman. He enjoyed his involvement in the Mount Hope Masonic Lodge #476 of Odessa, Missouri, and the Odessa Horse Lover’s Club. His hobbies included traveling the United States, hunting, country dancing, and going to Branson. He delighted in spending time with family, friends, classmates, and his JC Cowboy Church family.
He is survived by his wife of 41 years Sharon, and five daughters and sons-in-law: Kimberly (Bob) Jeffery, Susan (Mike) Whited, Doni (Scott) Windsor all of Odessa, MO. Dianna (Brad) Closterman, Lake Ozark, Missouri. Sherry (Doug) Hein, Bozeman, Montana. Fourteen grandchildren: Tera (Timothy) Burch, Amy Mackie, Brandi (Sean) Leslie, Michael (Jenni) Moore, Ashley (Jake) Watson, Sarah Kipping, Heather (Cody) Gibson, Austin (Stephanie) Windsor, Adam Whited, Caitlin Hein, Kelcie (Matt) Kerr, Kyle Whited, Emily Hein, and Logan Windsor. Sixteen great-grandchildren: Ava Mackie, Kadee Wertz, Ella Mackie, Anson Moore, Cael Leslie, Landon Whited, Gentry Moore, Cade Leslie, Titus Moore, Natalie Windsor, Lucas Moore, Wren Leslie, Emily Windsor, Carson Kerr, Tatum Gibson, and Baker Watson. Two sisters, Lois Carol Wilson of Springfield, MO, and Janet Roncelli of Lexington, MO.
Services will be held on Saturday, May 7th at JC Cowboy Church 124 N.W. 251 RD Warrensburg, Missouri. Visitation begins at 9:00 a.m. and Celebration of Life will follow at 11:00 a.m. Memorials are suggested to the JC Cowboy Church Arena Fund. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Ralph O. Jones Funeral Home, 306 S. 2nd St., Odessa, MO, 64076, 816-633-5524.
Don was preceded in death by his parents and two sisters, Carmen Harwood and Kathy Suse, and one grandson, Clayton R. Moore.
He graduated from Higginsville High School in 1955. He served in the United States Army from 1955-58 where he served as a member of the Far East Command Honor Guard in Tokyo, Japan.
Don began a career in construction after returning home from the military, working for Sharp Brothers Contracting Company. He was a superintendent on many jobs including the Medical Science Building, a five story Botany Building, and he completed the addition to Farout Field at the University of Missouri in Columbia, Missouri. He built a three-story Prime Health Building, an eight-story doctor’s building on Troost, and the Kansas City Chief’s Stadium at the Sports Complex in Kansas City, Missouri. The Water Waste Treatment Plant in Carrolton, Missouri, and Aldi Food Distribution Center for Epstein International of Chicago were also among his many jobs. He ended his career as owner/operator of SJ Concrete LLC.
Don was a horse lover and a cattleman. He enjoyed his involvement in the Mount Hope Masonic Lodge #476 of Odessa, Missouri, and the Odessa Horse Lover’s Club. His hobbies included traveling the United States, hunting, country dancing, and going to Branson. He delighted in spending time with family, friends, classmates, and his JC Cowboy Church family.
He is survived by his wife of 41 years Sharon, and five daughters and sons-in-law: Kimberly (Bob) Jeffery, Susan (Mike) Whited, Doni (Scott) Windsor all of Odessa, MO. Dianna (Brad) Closterman, Lake Ozark, Missouri. Sherry (Doug) Hein, Bozeman, Montana. Fourteen grandchildren: Tera (Timothy) Burch, Amy Mackie, Brandi (Sean) Leslie, Michael (Jenni) Moore, Ashley (Jake) Watson, Sarah Kipping, Heather (Cody) Gibson, Austin (Stephanie) Windsor, Adam Whited, Caitlin Hein, Kelcie (Matt) Kerr, Kyle Whited, Emily Hein, and Logan Windsor. Sixteen great-grandchildren: Ava Mackie, Kadee Wertz, Ella Mackie, Anson Moore, Cael Leslie, Landon Whited, Gentry Moore, Cade Leslie, Titus Moore, Natalie Windsor, Lucas Moore, Wren Leslie, Emily Windsor, Carson Kerr, Tatum Gibson, and Baker Watson. Two sisters, Lois Carol Wilson of Springfield, MO, and Janet Roncelli of Lexington, MO.
Services will be held on Saturday, May 7th at JC Cowboy Church 124 N.W. 251 RD Warrensburg, Missouri. Visitation begins at 9:00 a.m. and Celebration of Life will follow at 11:00 a.m. Memorials are suggested to the JC Cowboy Church Arena Fund. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Ralph O. Jones Funeral Home, 306 S. 2nd St., Odessa, MO, 64076, 816-633-5524.
Don was preceded in death by his parents and two sisters, Carmen Harwood and Kathy Suse, and one grandson, Clayton R. Moore.
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