Dorris Dale DePriest left to be with the Lord on April 23, 2015 at the Harrison County Community Hospital after battling many years of illness. He was 88 years old.
Dale was born on April 28, 1926 in Bethany, Missouri to Hiram Grover and Etta (Champlain) DePriest. He was the second born child after Elizabeth Rose. The DePriest family lived on a farm outside of Bethany throughout his childhood. He was raised as a Christian and attended various local churches. Dale later graduated from Bethany High School in 1944.
Following graduation he joined the Army Reserve. Dale left Missouri to work on a ranch in Basin, Wyoming. There he met the love of his life, Laura Johnson in July of 1950. Shortly after their meeting he was called to serve in the Korean War. October 21, 1950 he enlisted for active duty in Fort Lewis, Washington.
During his service to our country he was involved in the artillery unit as a spotter. At the time of his honorable discharge, he was decorated with three bronze stars and two overseas bars for his service. We are forever grateful for the commitment that he made to our country and the service that he provided during this time. He continued his involvement for years after his discharge and was in the army reserve for several years. He was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2176 and Missouri American Legion Post 216.
After his discharge, Dale returned to Wyoming to Laura. They married on Monday August 25, 1952 in Billings, Montana. After a short stay in the area, they traveled back to Missouri. Dale and Laura engaged in farming for a period of time outside of Trenton, Missouri before beginning a family.
Dale and Laura had four children: Michael, Don, Elizabeth and Grover, who were raised on a farm east of Bethany. The children lived nearby after their graduations to share their growing families with Dale. Family was very near and dear, spending time together for holidays and special occasions (or just because); building memories to be shared for years to come.
Dale was an avid card player and would spend countless hours playing pitch, rummy and other games until the wee hours of the morning. Family would play and you could hear “shoot the moon” and “high, low, jick, jack, joker, joker, game” along with hoots and hollers, moans and groans. He particularly enjoyed playing at the grain elevator, east of Bethany in the later years… He would always pick up a game if asked.
In addition to card playing, Dale also enjoyed the outdoors, hunting coon and coyote. Many friendships were built in his hunting endeavors. Farming was always very important as well, with special attention given to his horses and dogs. Dale was always known as a jokester and prankster and, in general, he lived life to the fullest.
Dale was always surrounded by family and friends… His dry sense of humor and matter-of-fact comments were always a source of laughter to everyone around him, even in his last days. Loved ones often recount their experiences or stories about him, their hearts filled with joy, always ending with a fond smile. He will be missed dearly.
Survivors include his wife of 62 years, Laura, of the home; children, Dr. Michael (Barbara Braznell) DePriest and Don (Jan) DePriest both of St. Joseph, MO, Elizabeth (Donald Weaver) DePriest, Roeland Park, KS, and Grover (Sondra) DePriest, Savannah, MO; 11 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; sister, Elizabeth Brooks, Bethany, MO; nephew, Buck (Lynne) Brooks, Holt Summit, MO and a great-nephew.
Funeral Services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, April 27, at Roberson Funeral Home Bethany, MO. Burial with military honors will follow in Miriam Cemetery, Bethany, MO. The family will receive friends from Sunday from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. at Roberson Funeral Home in Bethany, MO. Memorial contributions may be to Miriam Cemetery in care of Roberson Funeral Home P.O. Box 46 Bethany, MO 64424. Online condolences may be left at www.robersonfuneralhome.com.