Don Gibbons

CHAFFEE, Mo. -- Don Lee Gibbons, 79, of Chaffee died Sunday, March 28, 2010, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau.

He was born June 2, 1930, at Delta, son of Ira Richard and Mae Sarah Seabaugh Gibbons. He and Sharon Sue Hodges were married Aug. 14, 1969.

Don retired from the Army as a sergeant first class E-7 with 20 years of service, and fought in the Korean conflict and Vietnam War.

He worked at Procter & Gamble 20 years setting up assembly lines.

Survivors include his wife; three sons, Lonnie Gibbons of the state of Washington, Larry Gibbons of Kelso, Mo., Don Gibbons Jr. of Chaffee; three daughters, Anna Mae Bear of Houston, Liz Ashley of Mississippi, Sarah Backfisch of New Hamburg, Mo.; a brother, James M. Gibbons of Leopold, Mo.; three sisters, Yonetta Moore of Delta, Thelma Beckette of Cape Girardeau, Iraena Brown of Beaverville, Ill.; 12 grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, a daughter, a stepson, two sisters and a grandchild.

Visitation will be after 4 p.m. today at Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Chaffee.

The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the chapel, with the Rev. Alvin Moore officiating. Burial will be in Missouri State Veterans Cemetery at Bloomfield, with full military rites by Missouri Military Honors.