Donald Clingingsmith

SEDGEWICKVILLE, Mo. -- Donald L. Clingingsmith, 76, of Sedgewickville passed away Saturday, July 16, 2011, at his home.

"Poppy," as he was sometimes called, was born May 11, 1935, in Old Appleton, Mo., son of Raymond and Hazel Schneider Clingingsmith.

He served in the U.S. Marine Corps Platoon 254 at Fort Pendleton in San Diego from 1955 until 1959.

After coming back to the Cape Girardeau area, he and Sue Matlock of McClure, Ill., were married June 30, 1967, at Third Street United Methodist Church.

He worked for Laborers Local 282, highway/interstate commercial construction many years. Following construction he worked for ACF-ARI in Jackson 10 years, retiring in 1997.

Don was an active member of Sedgewickville United Methodist Church and its Men's Club. He was a member of Zenon River Brigade black powder club, where he participated in black powder shoots and re-enactments of pioneer days at various forts in the area. Don loved the outdoors, hunting, fishing and spending time with family and friends. He always said, "Love is beautiful."

Loving survivors include his wife of 44 years; two daughters, Charee (Brian) Whaley of Sedgewickville, Sandy (Todd) Newell of Jackson; three grandchildren, Cheyenne Long, Chris and Kyle Whaley of Sedgewickville; three sisters, Jessi (the late Curtis) Quade of Potosi, Mo., Patsy (the late Leroy) Abernathy of Jackson and Jeanette (Harold) Curnell of Branson, Mo.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister and brother-in-law, Hazel and Ralph Seabaugh.

Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. today at the chapel of McCombs Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Jackson.

The funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the funeral home, with the Rev. Greg Dowler officiating. Interment will be in Garden of Memories Cemetery at Sedgewickville with full military honors.

The family suggests memorials be made to Sedgewickville UMC or Crown Hospice.

Sympathy messages may be sent to the family online at www.mccombsfuneralhome.com.