Obituary: Don Priest (8/1/24) | Southeast Missourian Newspaper, Cape Girardeau, MO

Charles Donald Priest, 89, of Cape Girardeau died Monday, July 29, 2024, at the Missouri Veterans Home.

He was born on November 30, 1934 in Cape Girardeau. He was the third of five children of Charles “Tuck” and Erna Priest.

Don attended St. Vincent de Paul Grade School and graduated from Cape Girardeau Central High School in 1952. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1954 and served a year in the Korean War as a cryptographic specialist. After his honorable discharge in 1956, he resumed his studies at Southeast Missouri State College, graduating in 1958 with a degree in accounting.

Before the war, he met LaVonna Sue Leasure while working as a bellhop at the Marquette Hotel. After his return from service, they were married on May 30, 1958, at Old St. Vincent’s Catholic Church in Cape Girardeau.

Don began his career as an accountant at AC Brase and spent the majority of his 50+ year career at the law firm Stanley, Dirnberger, Hopper and Associates LLC, from which he retired in 2017.

He was a member of St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, the Elks and Kimbeland Country Club. He will always be remembered as an avid SEMO Indian fan!

Don is survived by his sister Mary Helbig of Fenton; his three daughters, Lisa A. (Ray) Reinagel and A. Suzanne (Larry) Eftink, both of Kelso, and Krissi D. (Chris) Davis of Cape Girardeau; and a son, Mark D. Priest of Raleigh, North Carolina.

He was the grandfather of 12 grandchildren: Lindsay Reinagel and Lauren (Jayden) Pobst; Clayton Eftink, Whitney (David) Rule and Hunter (Allie) Eftink; Ashley, Allison and Andrew Priest; Jackson and Karsyn Andrews and Charleigh and Quinn Davis.

He was the great-grandfather of seven great-grandchildren: Blakely and Kannon Pobst, Knox Reinagel, Briar Crowden, Lettie and Beau Eftink, and Eli Smith.

Don was preceded in death by his wife, LaVonna “Sue” Priest; his two brothers, Jack and Jerry Priest; and sister, Jo Ellen Priest.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, August 1 from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home with parish prayer at 7:00 PM, followed by the rosary.

The funeral mass will be held on Friday, August 2 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, with Reverend Rick Jones officiating.

Burial will be in Cape County Memorial Park Cemetery in Cape Girardeau.

You can make a donation to the International Rett Syndrome Foundation.

Online condolences may be offered at www.fordandsonsfuneralhome.com.