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Donald E. Major
57 Columbus Route Three, died at 1:35 a.m. Monday, August 14, 1995 at St. John's
Medical Center, Joplin, Mo. after an illness. Mr. Major was born July 2, 1938 at Mason City, Iowa, the
son of Donald Earl and Mary Ann Younke Major.
He moved to Rockford, Ill as a young child, where
he attended school and graduated High School. He served in the Air Force from 1956- 1964.
He
lived in Wichita for a time and then moved to Columbus in 1972. He opened the Kerr McGee Service Station
in Columbus from 1972-1976. He worked for USD493 of Columbus as a bus driver for 17 years.
He
married Ann Self on June 22, 1957 at Wichita.
He was a member of The First Baptist Church of Columbus,
the American Bowling Congress, the Cherokee County Ambulance Association and the Reserve Sheriff Department
of the Cherokee County. He was very active in the 4-H organization in Columbus.
Survivors include
his wife of the home; two sons, Steve Major and Scott Major, both of Columbus; his mother Mary Ann Merchant
of Rockford, Ill; one sister, Mary Ellen Carlson of Rockford, Ill and 7 grandchildren. He was proceeded
in death by one son, David, his father Donald and one brother, Richard.
Grave side servises will
be at 10am. Thurday at Edgmand Cemetary, northwest of Columbus, with the Rev. Don Walker officiating.
Friends may call at the Murdock Funeral Home in Columbus.
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Memories of Don by Jerry Millard
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Donald Merchant Major
Don and I started out life in much the same fashion in Mason City in the
same small neighborhood. I lived in a tar paper shack with no plumbing until moving to Clear Lake at
the start of the 6th grade. Don lived a half block from me in a converted chicken house but at the time
I felt like he lived in a castle... Dan had a sister, Mary Ellen, who was 2 years younger than him and
then a little brother.
After their Mother divorced Don Major, Sr. she later married a gentleman
by the name of Merchant and the three kids assumed Merchant as their last name but never adopted the
name legally. Most of the 56ers will remember him as Don Merchant.
Sometime in Jr. High or
early High School years Don and his family moved to Clear Lake and Don joined our class and Mary Ellen
joined the class of 1958. I think Richard Merchant was in the class of 1960. I am not sure how long
they went to school with us before moving to Rockford, Illinois where the family remained and Mary Ellen
Major Carlson still lives.
I have many memories and can still hear Don talk and laugh and while
I was so anxious to find him I had a strange feeling he had already gone on ahead of us. If any of you
in the classes of '58 or '60 would like more info on Mary Ellen or Richard just let me know and I will
get you on the right track.
Thanks to the Major family for being life long friends.
Jerry L.
Millard
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If you would like to share your memories of
Donald, please send them to ChatNutz@aol.com
to
be posted immediately.
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