Don Priest

Charles Donald Priest, 89, of Cape Girardeau died Monday, July 29, 2024, at the Missouri Veterans Home in Cape Girardeau.

He was born Nov. 30, 1934, in Cape Girardeau. He was the third of five children to Charles “Tuck” and Erna Priest.

Don attended St. Vincent de Paul Grade School and graduated from Cape Girardeau Central High School in 1952. In 1954, he joined the U.S. Army and served one year in the Korean War as a cryptographic specialist. After his honorable discharge in 1956, he resumed his studies at Southeast Missouri State College, where he graduated with a degree in accounting in 1958.

Prior to the war, he met LaVonna Sue Leasure while working as a bellhop at the Marquette Hotel. After his return from service, they married May 30, 1958, at Old St. Vincent's Catholic Church in Cape Girardeau.

Don started his career as an accountant with A.C. Brase and spent the better part of his more than 50-year career at the firm of Stanley, Dirnberger, Hopper and Associates LLC, where he retired in 2017.

He was a member of St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, the Elks and Kimbeland Country Club. He will always be remembered as an avid SEMO Indian fan!

Don is survived by his sister, Mary Helbig of Fenton; his three daughters, Lisa A. (Ray) Reinagel and A. Suzanne (Larry) Eftink, both of Kelso, and Krissi D. (Chris) Davis of Cape Girardeau; and a son, Mark D. Priest of Raleigh, North Carolina.

He was a grandfather to 12 grandchildren, Lindsay Reinagel and Lauren (Jayden) Pobst; Clayton Eftink, Whitney (David) Rule and Hunter (Allie) Eftink; Ashley, Allison and Andrew Priest; Jackson and Karsyn Andrews and Charleigh and Quinn Davis.

He was a great-grandfather to seven great-grandchildren, Blakely and Kannon Pobst, Knox Reinagel, Briar Crowden, Lettie and Beau Eftink and Eli Smith.

Don was preceded in death by his wife, LaVonna “Sue” Priest; his two brothers, Jack and Jerry Priest; and sister, Jo Ellen Priest.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 1, at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home, with parish prayers at 7 p.m., followed by the rosary.

Funeral Mass will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Aug. 2, at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, with the Rev. Rick Jones officiating.

Burial will follow at Cape County Memorial Park Cemetery in Cape Girardeau.

Memorial contributions may be made to the International Rett Syndrome Foundation.

Online condolences may be made at www.fordandsonsfuneralhome.com.