The Current Local, Van Buren, Missouri, April 26, 2007: Donald Boots Sr., 75, of Van Buren, Dies April 21. Donald Lee Boots Sr. was born April 15, 1932, and passed away April 21, 2007 at Saint Anthony's Hospital in Alton, Illinois. A professional driver and teamster, Boots retired from ABF trucking in Springfield, Ill. in 1987 after 15 years of service to the company and over 30 years as a teamster. Boots started his career in the transportation industry as a dock worker in the 1950's before becoming a driver, hauling a variety of goods from bread to livestock, before moving to ABF in 1972. An avid outdoorsman, Boots retired to Van Buren MO., where he enjoyed working in the garden and fishing. Boots spent the summers in Van Buren and winters traveling extensively across the USA, Canada and Mexico. A marksman, he loved to hunt deer and in one instance shot a charging elk on the side of a mountain while hunting in Colorado. Boots married Evelyn Ruth O'Dell Hale in 1965 in Van Buren. He is survived by his wife Evelyn Boots of Van Buren; sisters Francis Nan Buchanan of Frankfort, MO., and Mary Conners of Louisiana, MO., daughter Debi Boots of East Alton, Ill., sons William Stan Boots of Jacksonville, Ill., and Marty Lynn Boots of Parachutes, Colo., and stepsons Robert Hale of Wood River, Ill., and Jack Hale of east Alton, Ill. Boots is also survived by a large extended family including 10 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren. Boots will be remembered for his kindness and generosity toward all who knew him. The funeral service will be held Wednesday, April 25, at 2:00 p.m. at the McSpadden Funeral Home in Van Buren, with interment following the service at Gresham Cemetery northeast of Van Buren.

The Current Local, Van Buren, Missouri, April 26, 2007: Donald Boots Sr., 75, of Van Buren, Dies April 21. Donald Lee Boots Sr. was born April 15, 1932, and passed away April 21, 2007 at Saint Anthony's Hospital in Alton, Illinois. A professional driver and teamster, Boots retired from ABF trucking in Springfield, Ill. in 1987 after 15 years of service to the company and over 30 years as a teamster. Boots started his career in the transportation industry as a dock worker in the 1950's before becoming a driver, hauling a variety of goods from bread to livestock, before moving to ABF in 1972. An avid outdoorsman, Boots retired to Van Buren MO., where he enjoyed working in the garden and fishing. Boots spent the summers in Van Buren and winters traveling extensively across the USA, Canada and Mexico. A marksman, he loved to hunt deer and in one instance shot a charging elk on the side of a mountain while hunting in Colorado. Boots married Evelyn Ruth O'Dell Hale in 1965 in Van Buren. He is survived by his wife Evelyn Boots of Van Buren; sisters Francis Nan Buchanan of Frankfort, MO., and Mary Conners of Louisiana, MO., daughter Debi Boots of East Alton, Ill., sons William Stan Boots of Jacksonville, Ill., and Marty Lynn Boots of Parachutes, Colo., and stepsons Robert Hale of Wood River, Ill., and Jack Hale of east Alton, Ill. Boots is also survived by a large extended family including 10 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren. Boots will be remembered for his kindness and generosity toward all who knew him. The funeral service will be held Wednesday, April 25, at 2:00 p.m. at the McSpadden Funeral Home in Van Buren, with interment following the service at Gresham Cemetery northeast of Van Buren.