Donna Arleen Childress

Donna Arleen Childress, 81, (known as Deanna Grimsley in school) passed away at home in Springfield, Sept. 23, 2023, with family surrounding her bed.

Donna was born in Kansas City on Aug. 20, 1942, and raised in El Dorado Springs. 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 Hwy. 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 the 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.

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

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.

Services will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 30, at Craig-Hurtt Funeral Home, Seymour. Burial will be in Seymour Masonic Cemetery next to daughter, Christy.

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