Donald Elmore

Donald Raymond Elmore was the thirteenth and final child of Assembly of God Reverend William Carl Elmore and Myrtie Alma (Cathey) Elmore.  He was born in Sterlington, Louisiana on Sunday, December 14, 1941.

After a short battle with Lewy Body Dementia, Donald passed away peacefully surrounded by his family in Benton, Arkansas on Wednesday, July 21, 2021, aged 79.

Those of his family that predecease him are his parents, mentioned above, sisters, Agnes Hedden (Edmond “Bud”), sisters; Lillian, Edith, and Pearl Opal Elmore were all deceased in early youth, Laverne Crocker (Orval), and Helen Ates (Allen still living).  His brothers that have passed are Leroy Elmore (Esther), William C. “Dood” Elmore (Hilda), George Elmore (Arie), and his granddaughter Jillian Elora Elmore.

Don is survived by his loving wife Laura (Yeske) Elmore, children, and grandchildren; David Elmore, Mark Elmore (Donna), Jason Elmore (Jaclyn), and Jennifer Hurd (Todd), granddaughter; Maegan Tilley (Andrew, and great grandsons Levi and Connor); granddaughter Carlee Fox (Grant, and great granddaughters Lily, and Violet [on-the-way]); granddaughter Jules Elmore, and granddaughter Britney Hurd (and great grandson Dylan), all of central Arkansas.

His surviving siblings are Sybil Borne of Columbia, TN, Mary Johnston of Calhoun, LA, and Reverend Ralph Elmore of Boise, ID, and literally, hundreds of nieces, nephews, and cousins.  His grand and great grandchildren were the apples of his eye.

As the baby of the family Donald was, perhaps, noted as the instigator of many youthful hijinks among his older siblings, friends, and relatives.  That maybe why he was nicknamed “Uncle Dunk” presumably, because he was baptized 10 or 15 times by his father either because the reverend felt he required extra religious training or more likely needed a bath; or “Donald Duck” because he squabbled like Donald Duck, the Disney cartoon character, when frustrated that a prank didn’t go off as intended.

He still had that youthful attitude even in his adult life, often stirring the theological pot at our much beloved, annual Elmore family reunions held in West Monroe, Louisiana.  He reveled in being around his family.

Dad was a Seaman 1st Class in the U.S. Navy from 1958-1962. He attended bootcamp at the San Diego Naval Base, and then later was assigned aboard the aircraft carrier, USS Oriskany CVA-34 also known as the “Mighty O”.  He received an honorable hardship discharge in 1962 after his father passed away and his mother had no means of support.

Laura & Don met in Hawaii.  Mom on a vacation with her sister, Frieda, who worked for Air Canada and my dad who was assigned to the naval base.  They literally met in a pineapple field as two cars that passed each other.  The romantic details are another story for another time.

They were married in the historic McDougall United Church of Canada in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada on March 16, 1963.

He worked for Reynolds Metals Company in Bauxite, Arkansas for nearly 25 years.  He was also a member of the United Steelworkers Union.  On, at least, one occasion he arrived home after a shift wearing company coveralls because he was sprayed with an acid that ate off his clothes.

Dad worked for Reynolds all those years for which we are deeply grateful.  It kept us kids in clothes, food, and a roof over our heads.  He worked hard.  One of the benefits, he gained by working there, were ten week vacations every five years.

These vacations afforded us the ability to travel the United States to see the sights and wonders; like Mount Rushmore, the Grand Canyon, the giant Sequoia trees, Yellowstone, and Banff National Parks, and to visit my mom’s family and farm in Canada.  The farm was a great experience for us non-farm kids down in Arkansas.

Dad physically saved our lives on one of those vacations in an injurious, automobile accident in Chowchilla, California (near Merced) in 1973, but that is story too long to tell here.  He was a true hero.

He worked for the Arkansas Highway Department for 15 years.  Dad learned how to do electrical and plumbing work to maintain the rest areas around Arkansas among the numerous other things with which a highway employee might have to contend.

Donald was the owner and proprietor of Ellie’s Small Engine Service for more than 20 years.  Like the movie “Slingblade” dad would often find out what the problem was with a small engine within a few minutes after the owner left the premises.  It usually was ‘no gas’ in the engine or a sweetgum ball stuck in the clutch that kept the engine from starting.

He was a Cubmaster of Cub Scout Pack 33 and Scoutmaster of Boy Scout Troop 34 of the First Baptist Church in Benton.  He took Wood Badge, the highest adult leader training in Scouting around the world.  Later, he received the District Award of Merit from the Nischa Sipo District of the Ouachita Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America in 1980.  It is the highest award a district can bestow on a Scout leader.

Dad was not much of an artist but he could carve a mean walking stick.  His sticks have been greatly sought after by Scouters and as door prizes for our family reunions.

One would be remiss if it were not stated that he loved the outdoors, camping, fishing, and hunting.  In addition to the many campouts with the Scouts he did, our family often traveled to the lake and around the country on vacation, camping in a pop-up camper.  Because of our Scout training, each of us had our assignments in establishing the camp usually about ten or fifteen minutes after arriving, often to the amazement of nearby campers.

He was an avid watcher of western movies (a fan of “Gunsmoke” and John Wayne) and read nearly every book that Zane Grey, Louis L’Amour and other western writers, wrote.

His favorite food was purple-hull peas and Mexican cornbread.

Dad and mom kept a clean house, a good yard, and a fruitful garden.  He was an around-the-house handyman.  He made the word ‘father’ mean dad.

Don attended Sharon Missionary Baptist Church.  He believed in God, read his bible, and encouraged people to live a faithful life.

Many thanks to the staff at Amberwood Nursing Home and the caretakers of Arkansas Hospice for their tireless care of dad.

Donald Elmore’s memorial service will be held at the Smith-Benton Funeral Home, 322 N. Market Street, Benton, AR 72015, on Tuesday, July 27, 2021, at 3:00 pm.  Visitation will be held one hour prior to service, from 2:00-3:00 PM.  His nephew, Reverend Max Ates will be presiding. Online guestbook:  www.SmithFamilyCares.com.

There will be a private family graveside service at Sharon Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers please donate to the Dementia Society of America or the American Alzheimer’s Association.