Donald D.(Don) Mears

Donald D. (Don) Mears, 80, Topeka, KS, son of Timothy Mears and Lora Wells Mears passed away Tuesday, August 19, 2014.

Don was born February 27, 1934, on a farm north of Faucett, Missouri.
He was married to Mary Ellen Comella on November 25, 1955, in St. Joseph, Missouri.

Don started with the State in 1966 in the Department of Administration, Accounts and Reports as programmer, advancing to Data Processing Manager. He moved to the Supreme Court for a brief period when then State Treasurer Joan Finney recruited him to manage her data processing department. In 1986 he moved to the Department of Education He retired from there in 1994. For a few years Don taught key punch at what previously was known as Vo Tech.

Don graduated from Benton High School, St Joseph, Mo and attended St Joseph Junior College (now Missouri Western). Basketball was his sport. He played during high school and Junior College where it was noted in the yearbook "Don Mears, the only Griff cager to play in all the games, gets the honor of high score in one game with 23 points". He played for teams in St Joseph including for Goetz when they were Commercial League champs. The team even played a game against a farm team for the Harlem Globe Trotters. He later played on teams for Douglas Aircraft in Tulsa, OK and Chance Vought in Dallas, Texas.

He is survived by his wife & children, Timothy Mears and Rose Ireland, Donna Mears, and Amy and Jeff Lawson, grandchildren, Brian and Melanie DeWitt, Forrest Mears, Arbour and Travis Eden, Bart and Chelsea Johnson, Samantha and Daniel Haberkorn, great grandchildren, Lexsey and Kaylee DeWitt, Jace and June Johnson, brothers, David Mears, St. Joseph, MO,and Larry Mears, Hendersonville, TN, and numerous nieces and nephews. He was always "Rooster" to his family and the children enjoyed having him wiggle his ears.

Don loved his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. There was very little he wouldn't do for them after a little stern discussion. He followed their ballgames everywhere. He helped coached a few of his children's ball teams.

Don loved to walk, hunt and fish on his farm and was most happy when he could take someone down and show them around. He thoroughly enjoyed entertaining the hunting expeditions Larry organized. He was very proud of the Wildlife Habitat Conservation Award he received in 2012 from the Osage County Conservation District.

Don was preceded by his parents, daughter, Mary Joan Mears, brothers, Jerald and Dale Mears, sisters, Christina Faunce and Allene Carmain.
One of his last comments to Bart "not too bad for a poor Missouri farm boy".
Visitation will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, August 23, 2014, at Mount Hope Chapel, Topeka, with services following at 1:00 p.m.

Memorial contributions may be directed to Dystonia Medical Research Foundation or Midland Hospice.