Donald Leroy Knutter, 78, of Edwards, Mo., passed away Tuesday evening, March 26, 2019 at Liberty Hospital. Donald was born on June 19, 1940 near Orrick, Mo., to John Theodore Knutter and Gladys Marie Lee. He was raised and attended schools in Orrick and graduated from Orrick High School in 1958.

He was first married on December 31, 1960 to Velma West. To this marriage, he was blessed with the birth of his three children. He and Velma later divorced. He then married Patricia Marie Hanson on September 24, 1983. The couple lived in Liberty and moved to the Lake of the Ozarks following his retirement, and most recently made their home in Edwards, Mo.

He was a  truck driver for TOX (Texas Oklahoma Express) for 30 years, and retired in 1991. He was a member of the Teamsters union, and had been awarded the one million mile safe driver award, which he was most proud of.

Following his retirement, he worked for Security at Arrowhead Estates in Edwards, Mo. He also opened and operated Leroy’s Garage in Edwards, Mo., and continued to operate it until his health failed. He also had worked with the Arrowhead Estates Road District.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a daughter, Kimberly Kay Carter; and siblings, Loretta Holt, Mary Hughes, John Knutter, Dorothy Ferns Knutter, Amos Knutter, Sally Knutter and David Knutter.

Survivors include his wife of 35 years, Patricia M. Knutter of the home; his children, Teresa Teegarden (Rusty) of Lawson, Mo., and Kenneth Leroy Knutter (Judy) of Smithville, Mo.; his step-children, Michael Calhoun (Beth) of Olathe, Kans., Kathleen Jones (Dan) of Kansas City, Mo., and Kaysha Couzens (David Gassen) of Edwards, Mo.; and a brother, Jesse Thomas Knutter (Ruth) of Kansas City, Mo. Also surviving are 18 grandchildren and 28 great grandchildren.

Visitation will be from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m. Saturday, April 6, 2019 at the Gowing Funeral Home in Orrick, Mo. A Celebration of Life will immediately follow at 3:30 p.m., also at the funeral home, with Mr. Rusty Teegarden officiating. Cremation.

Memorials are suggested to The Dementia Society of America.

Condolences

With my deepest sympathy for my cousin Leroy. Keeping you in my prayers.
Love, Dorothy Covey Bell