On the evening of May 6, Donald (Don) Martin Sowers died at his home in Clermont, Florida at the age of 69.
Don was born September 7, 1954 in Houston, Missouri to Donald M. and Dolores Sowers. Born the second of three boys, he spent most of his youth and adult years in Missouri before moving to Florida for the last two decades of his life. Don was a lifelong educator who dedicated a career spanning more than 30 years to teaching music and math to youth of every level, with most of his time spent in the Chillicothe, Mo. and Clermont, Fla. districts. Don will be remembered as a man who turned his life’s passion, music, into joy for others – both in the making and receiving – and as a brother, uncle, cousin, and friend whose steadfast love was an underpinning to the lives of those around him.
Don’s life of music began in his youth, with piano lessons as a child that would lead to a rock band while he completed his bachelor’s and master’s degrees of music education at Southeast Missouri State University. In addition to the numerous school, church, and community choirs he joyfully led following university, Don was also a composer. He published several choral compositions – including one that would be performed at Carnegie Hall in 2013. He led multiple choirs to succeed in both competitive and performance arenas – boasting performances on MLB, college bowl, and professional music stages.
During his teaching career, Don was awarded the distinction of STARR Teacher in 1995 by the Missouri Department of Education. His article Life in the Classroom was published in the Music Educator’s National Conference magazine in 1992. Don was a member of the American Choral Director’s Association and chaired multiple committees at the state and district level. He was also the choral arranger for the audio adaptation of the children’s book Snowbeard the Pirate and the Naughty List.
Don is preceded in death by his father, Donald, and his mother, Dolores. He is survived by his two brothers, James (Linda), and Michael, as well as his nine nieces and nephews.
Whether touring with colleagues to sing on world stages, diving on the reefs of St. Thomas, or cruising the Rhine, Don’s sense of adventure and love for travel inspired countless unique experiences throughout his life – a life rich and well lived. Don’s beautiful voice will forever echo in the memories of those who loved him, and his legacy will live on in the music he has left for the world.
A celebration of Don’s life will take place at the home of one of his nieces in St. Louis, Mo. on July 20 from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. with a short memorial service at 2:30. The family asks that those who plan to attend RSVP at https://www.eventcreate.com/e/donsowersby June 14. The following day, on July 21, a graveside service will be held at Pine Lawn Cemetery in Houston, MO at 2:00 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Doyle Dumas Choral Scholarship, c/o Southeast Missouri University Foundation by mail at: One University Plaza MS 7300, Cape Girardeau, MO 63701, or, by designating the scholarship at https://semo.edu/giving/
