Donald Ray Wilcox

Donald Ray Wilcox was born September 7, 1939 in Hartshorn, Missouri to Leslie and Alma (Barnett) Wilcox.  He passed away on April 8, 2021 at Mercy Hospital in Springfield, Missouri at the age of 81 years, 7 months and 1 day.

He was united in marriage to Marcella May Shoults on August 11, 1957 and to their union they were blessed with two children, Roger Lee and Robin Lea.  They were married almost 58 years when Marcella passed away on July 8, 2015. Marcella was the true love of his life, he treated her with so much love, respect and patience that few men can even come close to.  He could often be found just holding her hand and always kissed her goodbye. Don visited her every day when she went into the care home.  He missed her dearly after her passing.   As a father he was kind, gentle and would do anything for his children and grandchildren until his last days.  He always put everyone else’s needs before his own.

Don was raised by his grandparents, John and Eura Wilcox and had a special bond with his uncle Charles Wilcox who was like a brother to him.  He grew up attending the Hartshorn Assembly of God Church where he was saved and later baptized at Buck Hollow on the Jacks Fork River.

Don and Marcie lived in St. Louis for a time where he worked for the Lee Rowan Company as well as a serving as a caretaker for a golf course and a cemetery.  After moving back to the Hartshorn area, he worked at Grogan’s Sawmill and a rock quarry. Don also worked for Craig Charcoal, where he retired from.  Most days after working his full-time job he would head to the timber where he would cut both cordwood and heating wood.

He was an outdoorsman and enjoyed fishing, deer and squirrel hunting.  He also enjoyed rabbit hunting and building traps with his grandson TJ. He always felt at home and at peace when he was in the woods.  Don also loved to work on the farm raising pigs and goats and the occasional pet deer as well as building fence and other upkeep on the farm.  He was a great cook right behind his wife Marcie, he especially made wonderful breakfasts and his specialties were peanut butter fudge and homemade ice cream that he liked to surprise special family members with from time to time.

Don was preceded in death by his parents, Les and Alma; his stepmother, Edna; his grandparents, John and Eura; his uncles, Charles, Robert Lee, Johnnie and Dorris and Hugo; his aunts, Billie and Peggy, his in-laws, Elmer and Audrey Shoults, Donald Shoults, Denver Shoults and Angel Van Shoults and a special aunt, Alice Barnett.

Don is survived by his children, Roger and wife Janet Wilcox and Robin Wilcox-Salyards and Tony Salyards as well as a special nephew Andy Shoults who he and Marcie loved as their own; grandchildren, Julie Wilcox, Amber Seilhan and TJ Salyards and girlfriend Paige; a step-granddaughter, Jessica Bullock and husband Brandon; great-grandchildren, Adysn Seilhan; CJ Kirk and Hudson Bullock; brothers and sisters-in-law, James and wife Paulette Shoults, David and wife Rhonda Shoults, Frankie and wife Cheryl Shoults, Acleda Menz and husband Jerry and Darlene Pethrus and husband Pierre; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and many other family members.

Don knew the value of hard work, but he also made the time to be an amazing husband, father and grandpa.  He was a strong man but always caring and kind and he will be dearly missed by all that knew and loved him.