Donald Leo Brinkley, Sr.

Donald Leo Brinkley, Sr. of Steelville, MO, age 83, passed away Friday, November 13, 2020 at his home surrounded by family. Don was born November 5, 1937 in Kimble, Missouri to the late Garnel and Maxine Pewitt Brinkley. On February 14, 1961 in St. Louis, he was united in marriage to Barbara Kay Best and to this union they raised four children.

Don served the city of St. Louis by being a fire fighter for 26 years, retiring in 1986. Even while working full-time, he enjoyed working part-time jobs removing and replacing the floor at the Checker Dome for Blues’ games, delivering furniture and was a home inspector. He was a member of the St. Louis Association of Retired Fire Fighters. Don loved watching the St. Louis Blues hockey team, playing golf where he was a member of the Viburnum Country Club and going to deer camp. Don enjoyed keeping his large lawn mowed and looking nice at all times. Most of all he loved spending time with all of his family and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Garnel and Maxine Brinkley; his wife, Barbara Brinkley; his son Donald Brinkley, Jr.; one brother, Gary (Donna) Brinkley; one grandson, Benjamin Ransom; brothers-in-law, Robert Best and Bob Stamper; and sisters-in-law, Viola (George) Daniels and Wanda (Bob) Bowen.

He will be sadly missed by his son, Daniel (Tina) Brinkley of Steelville; three daughters, Donna (Don) Mayberry of Rogers, AR, Daphne Brinkley of Steelville and Carla (Martin Gronborg) Arnett of Crestwood; ten grandchildren, D.J. (Whitney) Ransom, Megan (Scott) Vanatta, Ryan Mayberry, Darren (Kayla) Brinkley, Devon (Bill) Lunsford, Emma Brinkley, Trevor Arnett, Derek Arnett, Mallory Setzekorn and Henry Gronborg; seventeen great-grandchildren, Brinkley Vanatta, Kaylei Vanatta, Jackson Ransom, Emma Grace Ransom, Kameran Brinkley, Kendall Brinkley, Brody Lunsford, Briley Lunsford, Audrina Brinkley, Bentley Mason, Kaylin Gillam, Ace Horn, Nola Horn, Caroline Arnett, Noah Arnett, Anna Arnett and Skylar Arnett; brother, Gene (Sandy) Brinkley of Steelville, MO; sisters-in-law, Lena Best and Donna Jean Stamper all of St. Louis, MO.

A Graveside service was held at 12:00 Noon on Saturday, November 21, 2020 at the Wesco Cemetery with Rev. Jerry Beers officiating. Special music of "Last Dance" and "Peace in the Valley" was played. Memories were shared by the family.

Honored to be casket bearers were DJ Ransom, Darren Brinkley, Ryan Mayberry, Bill Lunsford, Scott Vanatta and Clay Stamper.

Committal prayer and interment were in the Wesco Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations to the Wesco Cemetery fence fund.

The Brinkley Family was served by the Britton-Bennett Funeral Home of Steelville, MO.

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