Richard Dean Donham

~ Lovingly Written by the Family ~
Richard Dean Donham, age 83 of Carl Junction, MO took his final trip on Saturday, May 10th to his heavenly home. He was born on September 29, 1941 the 4th of 6 boys born to the late Kenneth Leroy Donham and Mae Elizabeth (Durham) Donham in Carl Junction, MO.
Richard was a lifetime residence of Carl Junction a place he was proud to call home. Richard graduated from Carl Junction High School class of 1961 where he was active in choir and at the time was the first to letter in all four sports. He married Donna Sanders in 1963 to that union was born two daughters. Terra Lynn Gleason & Toni Jolynn Doran.
Richard was self-employed most of his life. Most notably owning Donham Construction for many years. He was an awesome excavator and could run a backhoe and walk over ditches like no other. Richard opened graves in most all of the small privately owned cemeteries all over the county until retiring a few years ago. Besides doing private work he did contract work for the gas company and Rural Water District # 2. He owned and operated two bars one in Joplin, MO and one in Pittsburg, KS
Richard enjoyed music, bowling, fishing, hunting, dancing and traveling. It was not unlike him to jump in the car and just take off for a destination unknown. A quality that always worried his daughters to death. He was a good dancer and enjoyed going out on the weekends dancing with the ladies. He was a very good cook and most notable for his pecan and peanut brittle. Many in the community and surrounding areas looked forward to that tin at the holidays that they knew held the very best pecan brittle in all the land. He always had brittle at Christmas for all his brothers' families including their kids a tradition that will be very missed by them all. I can still hear some of them saying "Did Uncle Richard bring "our" brittle?"
Richard was a loving father, grandfather, great grandfather. He enjoyed when the greats would come to visit. Just watching his face while watching them you could always tell. The look on his face usually followed by the following "You're a dandy"
Richard is survived by his two beloved daughters Terra Gleason of Joplin, MO and Toni Doran & son in law Kevin Doran of Joplin, MO; 5 grandchildren, Amber Rooke (Dylan) of Pittsburgh, PA, Tyler Gleason (Natalee) of Carl Junction, Ryan Gleason (Lincoln) of Carthage, MO, Alyssa Gleason (Seth Rock) of Lamar, MO and Addison Johnson (Cody) of Broken Arrow, OK; 9 great-grandchildren, Gracelynn Gleason, Lowen Johnson, Kenrick Rooke, Lennex Gleason, Stratton Gleason, Calleigh Johnson, Adalynn-Jo Johnson, Vaughn Gleason and Murphy Johnson; his two brothers, LeeRoy Donham and Robert Donham; and 5 sister in laws, many nieces and nephews and longtime friends. Richard will be missed in this world to those who knew and loved him.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Kenneth & Mae Donham; 3 brothers, Wayne Donham, Paul Donham and Roger Donham; his ex-wife, Weda Donham; and two great-grandchildren born in the arms of Jesus.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations be made out to the Carl Junction Cemetery.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, May 17th, 2025 at 2:00 p.m. at Parker Mortuary with Ryan Gleason officiating. Interment to follow at Carl Junction Cemetery with LeeRoy Donham, Kevin Doran, Brent Gleason, Tyler Gleason, Ryan Gleason and Cody Johnson serving as pallbearers. The family invites friends for a time of visitation at 1:00 p.m. prior to the service at Parker Mortuary.
Funeral arrangements are under the special care and direction of Parker Mortuary.