Donald Gene “Burly” Grimes

Donald Gene “Burly” Grimes of Aurora, Missouri

Donald Gene “Burly” Grimes of Aurora, Missouri passed away Tuesday, September 14, 2021 at the age of 83. After several weeks of declining health, he passed peacefully in his sleep.

            He was born November 4, 1937 in Los Angeles, California, the son of Leon and Ruby (Dandridge) Grimes. 

            At the age of two Burly and his parents moved to Geary, Oklahoma where his dad was a sharecropper.  Alongside his dad and brother Robert they harvested cotton from the fields.  Receiving his education from Greenfield school district in Oklahoma.  Burly earned quite the name for himself as a 5’10”, 225 pound seventeen-year-old fullback and middle linebacker.  So much so he earned a full ride scholarship to Oklahoma A&M which is now OSU.  Unfortunately, he received a serious neck injury that ended his football career.  

            After graduating high school, he moved to Wichita, Kansas and became the district manager for C.I.T. financial loan company.  While in a restaurant, as she waited tables, he met Frida Ellen Greek. After a period of dating, they were united in marriage on December 15,1960 in Miami, Oklahoma.  On October 10, 1964 together they bought 130 acres in Barry County Missouri.  After a few years of working day in and day out they had a productive dairy farm.  After 35 years of milking, calving, slopping pigs, gathering eggs, mending fences, tending the garden, and let's not forget hauling hay in the extreme heat Burly semi-retired and went to work for the Shell Knob school district as a bus driver.  After full retirement he stayed on the farm until a few years after Freda passed in 2008. 

            While at a function at the senior center he met Wonda Jean (Williams). They were married on September 21, 2010 in Galena, Missouri.  They have enjoyed each other's company.  Spending their time going antiquing and attending church together at Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Aurora where they are members.

            Survivors include his wife Wonda of the home; one brother, Robert Grimes and wife Pam of Clearwater, Kansas and many nieces and nephews.

                                                                                             P.S. I Will Close The Gate 

            Services will be held at 2:00 P.M. Monday, September 20, 2021, at Fohn Funeral Home in Cassville.  Pastor Kevin Vanderlaan will conduct the services. Burial will be at Sparks Cemetery in Butterfield.

            The Family will receive friends from 1:00 P.M. Monday until service time at Fohn Funeral Home in Cassville.

            Contributions may be made to Orange Cumberland Presbyterian Church in memory of Burley.

Visit www.fohnfuneralhome.com for online obituaries, guestbook and private condolences

FOHN FUNERAL HOME

Cassville, Missouri

417-847-2141