Don Schooler Obituary

Don William Schooler was born September 9, 1939, in Chillicothe, Missouri. His parents were Delmar Schooler and Mary Ann Pugh Schooler. Growing up, Don was an athlete, a member of the National Honor Society, and attended Boys State. He also worked as a farmhand throughout high school. Don's educational career began at Missouri University where he was a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. Don married Linda at 19 years old. They went to college at Northwest Missouri State University where he graduated with degrees in Business and English. After college, Don spent 6 years in the National Guard, stationed at Fort Riley. Don's work ethic started early and lasted until his last day on Earth. He had a lifelong career in banking. Following in his father's footsteps, Don was the president of United Missouri Bank in Brookfield, Missouri, from 1962-1974, and was promoted to bank president of United Missouri Bank in Springfield, Missouri, in 1974. At age 40 he started his own successful business venture, Don W Schooler and Associates, a private banking recruiting company. Don was loved by all and was fondly known for telling stories and jokes that made everyone laugh. He was a kind man and good person. He and Linda cherished their good friends and enjoyed going out to dinner with them frequently. Their Sunday School class at First and Calvary Presbyterian Church has also been very special to them. Don was called "Donnie" by many, but his most treasured name was "Poppy". Poppy loved his grandkids. He loved being a part of their lives and having them around. Every time one of them would come by to visit, he would stop everything he was doing, take his favorite spot on the couch, and listen. It didn't matter if you were 24 years old or 8 years old, anything you had to say was important to Poppy. The legacy Don left behind was one of integrity and hard work. He taught his children to have integrity and his integrity lives on in his grandkids. After retiring, Don did not slow down. Instead, made easy by his love for the outdoors, he quickly became a master landscaper. Don was always eager to learn something new and took pride in a job done right. He filled his workshop with equipment and tools, and held on to each instruction manual, just in case. Don and Linda cherished maintaining their home and valued the quality time it brought them. Don loved taking care of Linda and did so for their 63 years of marriage. He enjoyed retirement and always said it was a lot of fun to share it together. He was also an avid sports fan and taught Linda and the rest of the family a lot about sports through numerous years of conversation. Don's last day was a beautiful May day. He spent it exactly how he wanted to - power-washing everything he possibly could. It was a perfect day. Don peacefully passed away in his sleep that night. Don is survived by his wife, Linda VanCleave Schooler; his daughter, Alexis Schooler Childs and husband Jeff Childs; their children Hannah Grace Childs, 24, and Jake Lloyd Childs, 21; his son, Chandler Cornelison Schooler; his children William Maxwell Schooler, 22, and Mathew Rockford Schooler, 14; his daughter, Abby Schooler Morrison and husband Oakland Morrison, and their children Oakland Wayne Morrison, 16, Judson William Morrison, 15, Whit Noah Morrison, 8. Any memorial donations may be made to St. Jude's Hospital, www. stjude. org, or First and Calvary Presbyterian Church, 820 E Cherry St, Springfield, MO 65806. Private family services will be held at First and Calvary Presbyterian Church.