Donna (Tull) Parkhurst, Class of 1958
Donna Jean (Tull) Parkhurst
1940 – 2022
Eagleville, MO: Donna Jean (Tull) Parkhurst, 81, Eagleville, MO passed away Friday, January 7, 2022 at a Bethany, MO nursing home.
She was born March 17, 1940 at the home near Hatfield, Missouri to Oral Rolla and Oma Lucrethia (Johnston) Tull.
She rode her horse, Ribbon, to Lone Rock County School up hill both ways and barefoot in the snow. She spent a lot of time with her 3-legged dog, Old Spud. When they consolidated, she went to Eagleville school (the Eagles) until they built the new school North Harrison (the Shamrocks) where she graduated in 1958.
On June 1, 1958, she married Royal Victor Parkhurst. To this union 3 children were born, Cheryl Ann, Leanna Joy and Patricia Rayleene. Royal preceded her in death after 53 years of marriage on March 4, 2011.
She worked in the cap factory in Grant City, Old North Station Café, Dinner Bell Café, Crestview Home, attendant for North Harrison Ambulance, Perkie’s Corner, manager of café in the old Sale Barn North of Bethany, ran the sale barn café at the NW MO State Fair and made ham sandwiches at Foodlane grocery in Bethany.
Donna Jean loved playing Funny Rummy and vacations to the Ozarks with the girls and all the kids. She also loved picking elderberries for jelly, travelling on vacation and camping in a cab-over camper while antelope hunting in Wyoming. She was so fond of her chickens, rabbits, horses, geese, dogs, cats and even raised a few squirrels. You never knew when you went to her house if you would see a lamb in the bathtub or baby ducks swimming in it. She may even have a bottle-fed baby colt, tiny kittens, baby calves or a baby deer wearing a diaper to take care of in the house. Donna Jean talked to her canaries that sang to her every morning.
In the early 80’s, she and Royal moved to Texas. She loved it so much when the grandchildren came to stay for the summer and when visitors from Missouri came to visit. While in Texas, she took care of elderly people and worked in several restaurants.
She was also preceded in death by her parents; grandson, Roger Darrel Welch, Jr.; an infant brother; sisters, Verda (Robert) Cummins and Opal (Cleo) Brenizer; parents-in-law, Elza “Hank” and Dorothy Parkhurst; brothers-in-law, Cecil (Lola Mae) Parkhurst and Donald Parkhurst and her beloved dog, Trixie and Mama kitty.
Survivors include her daughters, Cheryl (James) Porter, Eagleville, MO, Leanna Joy Gilpatrick and Max, Ridgeway, MO and Patricia Welch (Ken), Neches, TX; grandchildren, Jennifer Parsons, David (Gina) Mossburg, Toni (Mike) Storms, Darci (Klint) Kleopping, Shawna Gilpatrick and Greg Welch; great-grandchildren, Kris Parsons, Cora, Casen and Camden Mossburg, Haleigh and Madisyn Morey, Lakelynn, Owen and Emmett Kleopping, Keeleigh and Aspen Gilpatrick and other family and friends.
Graveside Services and burial will be held at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, January 12 at Payne Cemetery, Hatfield, MO under the direction of Roberson Funeral Home, Eagleville, MO. Friends may call from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. There is no scheduled family visitation. Memorials may be made to the Payne Cemetery in care of Roberson Funeral Home, P.O. box 46, Eagleville, MO 64442.
