Dr. Daniel Dunavan

Dr. Daniel O. Dunavan, 60, of Cape Girardeau died Tuesday, July 20, 2004, at his home.

He was born June 26, 1944, in Great Bend, Kan., son of Ira McKendree and Mildred B. Walters Dunavan. He and Sheryl Ratzlaff were married June 2, 1968, in Goessel, Kan.

Dr. Dunavan received a bachelor of arts degree in music from Wichita State University, master of arts in music from DePaul University in Chicago and a doctorate in music from the University of Iowa.

He was a professor of music, teaching percussion in the music department at Southeast Missouri State University 32 years. He had lived in Cape Girardeau 32 years, moving from Chicago where he lived two years, and prior to that lived in Wichita four years.

Dr. Dunavan was a member of St. Mark Lutheran Church, sponsor of Circle K at Southeast University, lifetime member of Percussive Arts Society National Organization and served as president of the Missouri Chapter many years, and member of Phi Mu Alpha symphonia music fraternity.

Survivors include his wife; three sons, Dylan Dunavan and wife Elana of Oak Park, Ill., Cary Dunavan and fiancee Stephanie Amos of Kansas City, Mo., Jesse Dunavan of Cape Girardeau; two brothers, retired Lt. Col. Robert C. Dunavan and wife Janice of Pawnee Rock, Kan., Lt. Col. Alan L. Dunavan and wife Janet of Fort Leavenworth, Kan.; and a granddaughter, Ella Min Dunavan.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Friends may call at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday.

Funerals will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Mark Lutheran Church with the Rev. Robert Klein officiating, and at 10 a.m. Monday at First Christian Church in Pawnee Rock, with Tom Albright officiating. Burial will be in Pawnee Rock Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to Daniel O. Dunavan Percussion Scholarship at Southeast University, or Hope Lodge (American Cancer Society), 4215 Lindell Avenue, St. Louis, Mo., 63108.