Donald Dean Davidson, 87, Neosho, Mo., died June 27, 2015 at his home surrounded by family.
Don was born June 23, 1928, in Columbus, Kan., the son of Thomas Albert and Esther (Culpan) Davidson. He dropped out of 8th grade and went to work to help the family. He delivered ice when he was young. He later worked in the mines both in the 4-states and in Minnesota and for Mid-Western Oil, in Joplin, Mo. He moved from Peoria, Okla. to Neosho in 1960 to become his own boss and to better the life for his family. He leased a Fina station on Neosho Boulevard and for 10 years served every customer with a smile.
In 1970, he sold the Fina station and purchased the Dairy Mart diner next door. His wife, Ethel, handled the guests and took to-go orders on the payphone while Don ran the kitchen. Ethel's mother did the dishes in the back room. Spaghetti Red and hamburgers were his specialty.
He later ran a candy route for Tom's Snacks before starting his own vending business in the early 1980s. Davco Vending served many businesses in Neosho and Baxter Springs, Kan. He sold the vending business in the mid 1990s and retired.
In 1997, he exited retirement and began working at Marco Group, Inc. a family business owned by his son and grandson. He remained with Marco for 18 years until falling ill in early 2015. He was commonly referred to by the employees as "grandpa Don".
He was a member of Calvary Baptist Church, of Neosho, for over 50 years.
Don married Ethel Cole on Feb. 8, 1947, in Columbus, and she preceded him in death on Feb. 17, 2011.
He is survived by two sons, Rick Davidson and wife, Mary, of Joplin, and Bob Davidson and wife, Karen, of Liberty, Mo.; one brother, Bob Davidson and wife, Phyllis, of Peoria; six grandchildren, Richard Davidson and wife, Melanie, Brandon Davidson and wife, Kate, Jenny Becker and husband, Chris, Drew Davidson, Tyler Davidson and Ashley Davidson; and five great-grandchildren, Kyndall Davidson, Chase Davidson, Brayden Davidson, Keira Becker and Brody Becker.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Friday, July 3, at Calvary Baptist Church, in Neosho, Rev. Roger Brumley will officiate. Interment will follow in the Baxter Springs Cemetery and serving as pallbearers will be Richard Davidson, Brandon Davidson, Drew Davidson, Tyler Davidson, Chris Becker and Richard Clemons. The family will receive friends on Friday from 10 until 11 a.m. prior to the service at the church
Don was born June 23, 1928, in Columbus, Kan., the son of Thomas Albert and Esther (Culpan) Davidson. He dropped out of 8th grade and went to work to help the family. He delivered ice when he was young. He later worked in the mines both in the 4-states and in Minnesota and for Mid-Western Oil, in Joplin, Mo. He moved from Peoria, Okla. to Neosho in 1960 to become his own boss and to better the life for his family. He leased a Fina station on Neosho Boulevard and for 10 years served every customer with a smile.
In 1970, he sold the Fina station and purchased the Dairy Mart diner next door. His wife, Ethel, handled the guests and took to-go orders on the payphone while Don ran the kitchen. Ethel's mother did the dishes in the back room. Spaghetti Red and hamburgers were his specialty.
He later ran a candy route for Tom's Snacks before starting his own vending business in the early 1980s. Davco Vending served many businesses in Neosho and Baxter Springs, Kan. He sold the vending business in the mid 1990s and retired.
In 1997, he exited retirement and began working at Marco Group, Inc. a family business owned by his son and grandson. He remained with Marco for 18 years until falling ill in early 2015. He was commonly referred to by the employees as "grandpa Don".
He was a member of Calvary Baptist Church, of Neosho, for over 50 years.
Don married Ethel Cole on Feb. 8, 1947, in Columbus, and she preceded him in death on Feb. 17, 2011.
He is survived by two sons, Rick Davidson and wife, Mary, of Joplin, and Bob Davidson and wife, Karen, of Liberty, Mo.; one brother, Bob Davidson and wife, Phyllis, of Peoria; six grandchildren, Richard Davidson and wife, Melanie, Brandon Davidson and wife, Kate, Jenny Becker and husband, Chris, Drew Davidson, Tyler Davidson and Ashley Davidson; and five great-grandchildren, Kyndall Davidson, Chase Davidson, Brayden Davidson, Keira Becker and Brody Becker.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Friday, July 3, at Calvary Baptist Church, in Neosho, Rev. Roger Brumley will officiate. Interment will follow in the Baxter Springs Cemetery and serving as pallbearers will be Richard Davidson, Brandon Davidson, Drew Davidson, Tyler Davidson, Chris Becker and Richard Clemons. The family will receive friends on Friday from 10 until 11 a.m. prior to the service at the church
Donald Dean Davidson, 87, Neosho, Mo., died June 27, 2015 at his home surrounded by family.
Don was born June 23, 1928, in Columbus, Kan., the son of Thomas Albert and Esther (Culpan) Davidson. He dropped out of 8th grade and went to work to help the family. He delivered ice when he was young. He later worked in the mines both in the 4-states and in Minnesota and for Mid-Western Oil, in Joplin, Mo. He moved from Peoria, Okla. to Neosho in 1960 to become his own boss and to better the life for his family. He leased a Fina station on Neosho Boulevard and for 10 years served every customer with a smile.
In 1970, he sold the Fina station and purchased the Dairy Mart diner next door. His wife, Ethel, handled the guests and took to-go orders on the payphone while Don ran the kitchen. Ethel's mother did the dishes in the back room. Spaghetti Red and hamburgers were his specialty.
He later ran a candy route for Tom's Snacks before starting his own vending business in the early 1980s. Davco Vending served many businesses in Neosho and Baxter Springs, Kan. He sold the vending business in the mid 1990s and retired.
In 1997, he exited retirement and began working at Marco Group, Inc. a family business owned by his son and grandson. He remained with Marco for 18 years until falling ill in early 2015. He was commonly referred to by the employees as "grandpa Don".
He was a member of Calvary Baptist Church, of Neosho, for over 50 years.
Don married Ethel Cole on Feb. 8, 1947, in Columbus, and she preceded him in death on Feb. 17, 2011.
He is survived by two sons, Rick Davidson and wife, Mary, of Joplin, and Bob Davidson and wife, Karen, of Liberty, Mo.; one brother, Bob Davidson and wife, Phyllis, of Peoria; six grandchildren, Richard Davidson and wife, Melanie, Brandon Davidson and wife, Kate, Jenny Becker and husband, Chris, Drew Davidson, Tyler Davidson and Ashley Davidson; and five great-grandchildren, Kyndall Davidson, Chase Davidson, Brayden Davidson, Keira Becker and Brody Becker.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Friday, July 3, at Calvary Baptist Church, in Neosho, Rev. Roger Brumley will officiate. Interment will follow in the Baxter Springs Cemetery and serving as pallbearers will be Richard Davidson, Brandon Davidson, Drew Davidson, Tyler Davidson, Chris Becker and Richard Clemons. The family will receive friends on Friday from 10 until 11 a.m. prior to the service at the church
Don was born June 23, 1928, in Columbus, Kan., the son of Thomas Albert and Esther (Culpan) Davidson. He dropped out of 8th grade and went to work to help the family. He delivered ice when he was young. He later worked in the mines both in the 4-states and in Minnesota and for Mid-Western Oil, in Joplin, Mo. He moved from Peoria, Okla. to Neosho in 1960 to become his own boss and to better the life for his family. He leased a Fina station on Neosho Boulevard and for 10 years served every customer with a smile.
In 1970, he sold the Fina station and purchased the Dairy Mart diner next door. His wife, Ethel, handled the guests and took to-go orders on the payphone while Don ran the kitchen. Ethel's mother did the dishes in the back room. Spaghetti Red and hamburgers were his specialty.
He later ran a candy route for Tom's Snacks before starting his own vending business in the early 1980s. Davco Vending served many businesses in Neosho and Baxter Springs, Kan. He sold the vending business in the mid 1990s and retired.
In 1997, he exited retirement and began working at Marco Group, Inc. a family business owned by his son and grandson. He remained with Marco for 18 years until falling ill in early 2015. He was commonly referred to by the employees as "grandpa Don".
He was a member of Calvary Baptist Church, of Neosho, for over 50 years.
Don married Ethel Cole on Feb. 8, 1947, in Columbus, and she preceded him in death on Feb. 17, 2011.
He is survived by two sons, Rick Davidson and wife, Mary, of Joplin, and Bob Davidson and wife, Karen, of Liberty, Mo.; one brother, Bob Davidson and wife, Phyllis, of Peoria; six grandchildren, Richard Davidson and wife, Melanie, Brandon Davidson and wife, Kate, Jenny Becker and husband, Chris, Drew Davidson, Tyler Davidson and Ashley Davidson; and five great-grandchildren, Kyndall Davidson, Chase Davidson, Brayden Davidson, Keira Becker and Brody Becker.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Friday, July 3, at Calvary Baptist Church, in Neosho, Rev. Roger Brumley will officiate. Interment will follow in the Baxter Springs Cemetery and serving as pallbearers will be Richard Davidson, Brandon Davidson, Drew Davidson, Tyler Davidson, Chris Becker and Richard Clemons. The family will receive friends on Friday from 10 until 11 a.m. prior to the service at the church
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