Donald Gregory

Donald Gregory, 79, of Decatur and formerly of Mt. Vernon, passed away at 7:40 a.m. Monday, March 30, 2009, in Decatur Memorial Hospital.Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Friday at Dawson and Wikoff Funeral Home, 105 W. Main St., Mt. Zion. Burial will be in the Point Pleasant Cemetery, Long Creek. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday evening at the funeral home.Memorials may be made to the activities fund of Heritage Manor Nursing Home, Lincoln Manor Nursing Home or Fairhaven's Christian Home. Messages of condolence may be sent to the family c/o www.dawson-wikoff.com.Don was born Oct. 29, 1929, in Affton, Mo., the son of Arthur and Minnie (Ellis) Gregory. He married Marilyn Jones on July 6, 1964. He was a member of the UAW Local 751 and retired from Caterpillar Tractor Co. after 37 years with the company. Donald was a veteran of the Marine Corp, enjoyed golfing with the Birdie Hunters League, and was a member of the First Baptist Church, Mt. Zion. He was an avid guitarist and vocalist who performed with many country and bluegrass bands over the years. Most recently he had been performing with the Drifting Dreamers at area nursing homes. Donald's love for music will live on in his children, grandchildren and extended family. Surviving are his wife, Marilyn of Decatur; daughters, Joni Oak of San Diego, Debbie Tindall and her husband Keith of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Brenda Bickers and her husband Greg of Decatur; grandchildren, Jamie Schumacher and her husband Clay of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Aaron Tindall of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Brandon Koehler of Decatur, Christopher "CJ" Koehler of Decatur and Heather Bickers of Decatur; brothers, Carroll Gregory of Mt. Vernon, Harold Gregory and his wife Mary Jo of Tempe, Ariz., and Arthur Gregory and his wife Betty of Tempe, Ariz.; and sister, Pauline Becker of Tyler, Texas.He was preceded in death by his parents, and a sister, Virginia Scott.