On April 22, 1950, Donnie Ray was born to John and Mamie (Tyra) Munson. He departed this life on December 30, 2024, at the age of 74 years. Don was the third boy born in the family, but in 3 years had to move over as the baby of the family and welcome his new baby sister, Bertie.
Don’s early years were spent living in several towns across Oklahoma and Kansas. The family moved often, as his father was a Pentecostal Holiness pastor. He would tell of life as a PK (preacher’s kid) and all the antics that he and his brothers got into. Don accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior as a young boy at one of the many camp meetings his father helped organize each year.
In 1968, he graduated from high school at Muskogee, Oklahoma and started college at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, with the goal of obtaining a degree in chemical engineering. As a junior, he met Peggy Kirkegard, while they both worked at the dorm’s cafeteria on a work-study program that paid for their room and board. They were married over Thanksgiving break, on a bedlam weekend (OU Sooners verses OSU Cowboys) on November 26, 1971, with dreams of careers, raising a family, buying a home and building a life together. It was at this point in his life that he decided to change his career direction to become a registered nurse. So after Peggy’s graduation, they moved to OKC where he attended OSU’s nursing school. He often joked that it only took him 5 years of schooling to get his associates RN degree. Upon completion of his degree he worked at several hospitals in their surgical departments. In 1977 his first son, Rusty was born. While working on a surgical heart team at Presbyterian Hospital, he became interested in pursuing the field of anesthesiology. In 1980, he was accepted into a program at Friends University in Wichita, KS to become a certified registered nurse anesthetist. During this time of schooling the family welcomed another boy, Ryan, to the family. Upon completion of his CRNA degree and licensing, the family moved to Pittsburgh, KS in 1983. Here they lived a mile from the hospital and Don spent many days and weekends on call. He loved his job, with the one exception that many times he was called to work when important things were happening in the lives of his boys, things that he only got to experience through photographs. In 1989, the family moved to Houston, MO where Don took a job with Texas County Memorial Hospital. For the next 35 years, he would continue to work at TCMH, at Ozark Medical Center in West Plains and at numerous hospitals throughout Missouri, Oklahoma and Arkansas. He loved helping people and caring for his patients while providing anesthesia.
From the time that the family moved to Houston, Faith Fellowship has been a huge, important part of his life. He and his family have attended, served and have been deeply rooted in the church. He enjoyed wonderful, life-time friendships with so many.
Don loved his life and his interests were vast. He was at home on the river, canoeing, kayaking or white water rafting. He loved hunting, especially bird hunting. He tended various food plots to be ready for deer hunting each year. His favorite shooting sport was the Schuetzen sharpshooting matches he competed in at Tulsa, OK and Monett, MO. His passion for the sport was fueled by his friendship with gunsmith, Verl Sigman who he met after moving to Houston. He loved adventure and was able to white water raft in Costa Rica and go on a medical mission trip to Panama. He was ever the student learning about early American explorations into the wild west, firearms, blacksmithing, quilting, carving and long bow making.
Although hobbies and interest were important to him, his love and devotion for his family eclipsed them all. His boys grew up with the understanding of the importance of loving God, working hard, being men of integrity and the value found in a good name. He adored his grandchildren and made every effort to be involved in their lives by supporting them in their school and sports endeavors. He loved all their hugs, kisses and their laughter, that brought him immense joy.
Since 2016, Don fought a long and hard battle with multiple myeloma. Through all the ups and downs of treatment, he moved forward each day doing all the things that he so loved. He lived life to the fullest. He was a quiet, gentle, humble and wise man.
Don was preceded in death by his parents, John and Mamie and his sister, Bertie (Munson) Roberts. He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Peggy; his two sons, Rusty Munson, Fenton, MO and Ryan Munson and his wife, Amanda, Houston, MO; six grandchildren, Micah, Kayla and Alexia, Fenton, MO and Maddy, DJ and Ryker, Houston, MO. He is also survived by two brothers, John Munson, Jr. and wife, Phyllis of NC and Bill Munson and wife, Loral of Muskogee, OK, nieces and nephews and a host of friends.
We will grieve for our loss of Don, Dad and Papa in our lives, but we rejoice in knowing he is healed and whole, enjoying the presence of Jesus and that heavenly river of life that he often talked about. And we move forward with our hope in knowing that we will see him again in heaven and all rejoice together around the throne of God.
In lieu of flowers, the family request donations be made the SuperKids Ministry of Faith Fellowship, P.O. Box 14, Houston, MO to help the ministry further provide the opportunity for children to hear about the love and saving power of Jesus.
