When Don was nine his father died, and his grandma Dory (Dora Manchester) moved in to help raise him. A few years later his mom married Charles Billings whose kind spirit and steady care significantly shaped him.
Don graduated from Paseo High School and soon after went to work for Hallmark Cards where he met the love of his life, Blanche Yeo. The two were married in 1957, and raised three children, Lynn, Kevin, and Danny.
An inventive, entrepreneurial spirit, Don had a storied carrier. In 1966 he and a partner took over as own/operator of the St. Joseph Art Glass Business. Later he created several room-sized cameras, and innovative photographic processes for the Western Auto Company. While there, he developed a new technique to fuse multiple images optically, well ahead of the digital wave. That technique took him to two other companies before starting his own business with a partner, Mitchell/MacMurchy, where Blanche ran the front office. He taught his specialty technique at The University of Kansas and served as a consultant on trips to California, Chicago, and Toronto before retiring from Image Point. Don also served as a linemen in the US Army.
He held a deep faith. Served as Chairman of Deacons at Trinity Baptist and Holmeswood Baptist where he taught Sunday School, served on several building committees, and as a counselor for Exclamations summer youth tours.
Don was preceded in death by his grandma Dory, Dads, Mom, daughters in-law Jet and Milissa. He is survived by his beloved wife of 66 years, Blanche; daughter Lynn Bentley (Phil); sons Kevin Mitchell (Lori), Dan Mitchell; Granddaughters Brittney Hembree (Jordan), Madison & Morgan Mitchell; great-grandchildren, Brycen, Maylee, and Kennedi Hembree.
A visitation for Donald will be held Saturday, July 1, 2023 starting 9:00 AM at Mt. Moriah, Newcomer & Freeman Funeral Home, 10507 Holmes Road, Kansas City, MO 64131. His funeral service will follow at 10:00 AM. Concluding with a committal service at Mount Moriah Cemetery South.
