Donald Patrick

Donald Eugene Patrick went to be with the Lord, Sunday, April 28, 2019 two hours after his 89th birthday. He was born April 27, 1930 in Spokane, MO, the oldest of four boys born to James and Evelyn Davis Patrick. Donald had been working in Rocky Ford, Colorado at the sugar beet factory before he and Evelyn June Abbey got married on January 26, 1951. He then worked seasonally with the Missouri Conservation Commission. Later he, Evelyn and the three oldest of their five children traveled to the mountains near Granby, Colorado where they lived in a cabin on the mountain where he logged for a time. He spent another part of two years working in the sugar beet factory before coming home to Missouri to work full time with the Missouri Conservation Commission. He worked over forty years in the Forestry Department driving a bulldozer, fighting fires and traveling to fight fires in other states. Don retired in 1995, He was caretaker and on the board of the Eisenhour Cemetery for 40 plus years until health caused him to pass his duties on to a younger generation. After retirement, Don and Evelyn traveled visiting most of the states. In the western states he loved to explore and the eastern states he researched family genealogy of his great grandfather John Patrick, who came from Virginia and homesteaded the land where he lived. He and Evelyn spent a few winters in McAllen, Texas, occasionally taking short trips to Mexico, before age and health demanded he stay closer to home. Donald had accepted the Lord as his Savior and was a member of the Spokane First Baptist Church. Donald is survived by his wife Evelyn; five children Pam Cope (O.D.), Mike Patrick (Linda), Tracy Maples (Gene), Kelly Patrick (Gwen), and Karen Baker. He is also survived by eleven grandchildren; Glen, David, and Matthew Cope, Michael and Daniel Patrick, Tina Malinowski, Lee Maples, Jeremiah Patrick, Tyra Boice, Randa Willis, and Ashley Cutbirth; and 17 great-grandchildren; and his brother Junior Patrick (Mary Jane). Donald was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, Danny Lee and Bob, an infant sister, and his son-in-law Randy Baker. Funeral services will be held at 1:00 PM Wednesday, May 1, in Adams Funeral Home, Nixa. Burial will follow in Eisenhour Cemetery, Spokane, Missouri. Visitation will be held from 12:00 noon to 1:00 PM prior to the service in the funeral home.