Mr. Donald Linn Cleaver, age 75, of Benton, KY passed away from his home to be with the Lord on Friday April 17, 2015 at 6:36 a.m. Donald was born at Riverside Hospital in Paducah, KY on December 15, 1939, to Georgia Helen Downing Cleaver and Ralph Welch Cleaver. He retired as Dean of Business at West Kentucky Vocational School in 1999. He was a Business Manager for Vocational Technical Education Region 1, where he wrote a computer program, “Birds and Bees of Business Computing” which was used by various Vocational Education Regional Offices throughout the state. He also taught Business and Distributive Education classes at Western KY Technical College, Fulton Co. Vocational School, and Marshall County Vocational School. He was honored as Outstanding Business Student at Murray State University in 1973. He held a Master’s Degree and certification as a Vocational Administrator from Murray State University. He received several state awards for Outstanding Achievement in Vocational Education during his 26-year tenure. He also was a shipping supervisor for Tappan Stove Co. in Murray, KY for 15 years.
He was a member of Dexter Hardin United Methodist Church where he served as Song Leader and Sunday School Teacher in addition to various local, district and conference offices. Donald was a member of Purchase Area Walk to Emmaus, having served as chairman of the board and registrar. He was a member of Marshall County and District One Retired Teachers, having served as president of each. Also, he was Scout Master for Troop 61 at Dexter and Hardin, a District Deputy Grand Master Mason, a member of Paducah Breakfast Lions Club and the Marshall County Historical Society. He was a Kentucky Colonel.
Donald is survived by his wife of 55 years, Myra Lee Woodall Cleaver; two sons, Terry Linn Cleaver, wife Kelly, of Cape Girardeau, MO. and Tracy Lee Cleaver, wife Tammy, of Murray, KY; four grandchildren, Lyndsey Nicole Conner, husband Brandon, of Louisville, KY, Jeremy Linn Cleaver of Columbia, MO, Leeandra Brooke Cleaver of Murray, KY, and Sarah Denise Cleaver of Cape Girardeau, MO.; one step granddaughter, Casey Lane Walsh of Tallahassee, FL. His mother-in-law and father-in-law at Nell and Joe Wilson of Benton, KY.
He was preceded in death by his father, Ralph Welch Cleaver, his mother Georgia Helen Downing Cleaver Butts, his step father Carl Thomas Butts, one sister and one brother.
Visitation will be at Collier Funeral Home, Friday April 24 from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. and at Dexter Hardin United Methodist Church Saturday April 25 from 11:00 a.m. until the funeral hour. Funeral services will be at 2:00 p.m. at the church with Rev. Richard Burkeen and Rev. Robert McKinney officiating. Special music will be provided by Jeanette Darnall, Wanda Tucker and Steve Jeffrey. Honorary Pallbearers will be Donald’s brothers-in-law, Robert Dale Woodall, John Richard Woodall, Edward Max Gore, Roy Damon Williams, Joseph Ralph Wilson and James Russell Wilson, and friend and neighbor Roe Bert Siress. Pallbearers will be his nephews Roy Jr. Williams, Shawn Gore, John Gore, Matt Morehead, Mitchell Morgan and Wesley Wisehart. Burial will be in Stewart Cemetery in Calloway County.
In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to Dexter Hardin United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 92, Hardin, KY 42048.
Collier Funeral Home, 211 West 5th Street, Benton, KY are handling arrangements.