Donald Lavern Scowden
Donald Lavern Scowden, age 84, of Greenville, passed away Sunday, Aug. 21, 2022 at his home surrounded by his loving family after a long battle with Parkinson’s Disease. Don was born Aug. 21, 1938 at Lowndes, Missouri, to parents Byron and Mary Ann (Houseman) Scowden. On June 6, 1959 he married the love of his life, Linda Shrum and to this union he was blessed with two daughters.
Don graduated from Zalma High School and attended Southeast Missouri State University. In 1957 he began a long professional career with McDonnell-Douglas in St. Louis and he retired in 1996 as manager of Manufacturing Engineering of the C17 project. He also served as vice president of Sullivan Precision Metal Finishing in St. Louis.
Upon retiring to Greenville, Don served for 16 years as the treasurer for the Wayne County Republican Central Committee and became the charter President of the Historic Greenville Museum and Community Center. He also served as Greenville Mayor for six years. He is a 50-year member of the Zalma Masonic Lodge # 545 and Greenville Lodge # 107, as well as the St. Louis Scottish Rite.
Preceding him in death are his parents, Byron and Mary Ann Scowden, two brothers, Calvin Scowden and Leo Scowden, and one great-granddaughter, Olivia Grace Rossini.
Survivors include his wife, Linda Scowden, of the home; two daughters, Omega Hunter and her husband Bud, of St. Charles, Missouri, Rachelle Brinkley and her husband Steve, of Troy, Missouri; two sisters-in-law, Wilma Jane Scowden, of Benton, Missouri and Marie Scowden of Shook. Also surviving are five grandchildren, 12 precious great-grandchildren and many other family and friends.
Don was a generous and compassionate man and loved to see people succeed in their lives. He will be greatly missed by all those who knew and loved him.
Rose Croix and Masonic Services were conducted Saturday, August 27 at the Morrison Funeral Chapel in Greenville. Funeral Services were held on Sunday, August 28 at the funeral home chapel with Rev. Jamie Hovis officiating. Special recorded songs were played for the service and Tyler Brinkley, Leo Rossini, Adam Rehagen, Nathan Cockrum, Trenton Rodgers and Bill Shrum served as Pall Bearers. Interment was in the Crossroads Cemetery under the direction of Morrison Funeral Chapel. Memorials have been requested to the Greenville Historical Museum and Community Center.
