Donald Lavern Scowden, 84, of Greenville, passed away Sunday, Aug. 21, 2022 at his home surrounded by his loving family after a long battle with Parkinson’s Disease. Don was born Aug. 21, 1938 at Lowndes, Missouri, to parents Byron and Mary Ann (Houseman) Scowden. On June 6, 1959 he married the love of his life, Linda Shrum and to this union he was blessed with two daughters.
Don graduated from Zalma High School and attended Southeast Missouri State University. In 1957 he began a long professional career with McDonnell-Douglas in St. Louis and he retired in 1996 as manager of Manufacturing Engineering of the C17 project. He also served as vice president of Sullivan Precision Metal Finishing in St. Louis.
Upon retiring to Greenville, Don served for 16 years as the treasurer for the Wayne County Republican Central Committee and became the charter President of the Historic Greenville Museum and Community Center. He also served as Greenville Mayor for six years. He is a 50-year member of the Zalma Masonic Lodge # 545 and Greenville Lodge # 107, as well as the St. Louis Scottish Rite.
Preceding him in death are his parents, Byron and Mary Ann Scowden, two brothers, Calvin Scowden and Leo Scowden, and one great-granddaughter, Olivia Grace Rossini.
Survivors include his wife, Linda Scowden, of the home; two daughters, Omega (Bud) Hunter, of St. Charles, Missouri, Rachelle (Steve) Brinkley, of Troy, Missouri; two sisters-in-law, Wilma Jane Scowden, of Benton, Missouri and Marie Scowden of Shook. Also surviving are five grandchildren, 12 precious great-grandchildren and many other family and friends.
Don was a generous and compassionate man and loved to see people succeed in their lives. He will be greatly missed by all those who knew and loved him.
Visitation will be held at 5 p.m. Saturday at the Morrison Funeral Chapel in Greenville. Scottish Rite and Masonic Services will be held at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the chapel. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home chapel with Rev. Jamie Hovis officiating. Interment will be in the Crossroads Cemetery near Lowndes. Memorials have been requested to the Greenville Historical Museum and Community Center.