Donald Ross Hankins

Donald Ross Hankins was born Dec. 5, 1953, in Springfield, to Ross Hankins, Jr. and Twillia Hodges Hankins. He married Karen Neely on Jan. 16, 1978, and was blessed with two children, Laura Dawn Hankins Gaddy and Jason Ross Hankins. He
passed away at his family farm near Willard on Nov. 3, 2018, following a brief illness.
Hankins was preceded in death by his mother and his son-in-law, Grayson Gaddy. He is survived by his father, of Springfield, his wife of the home; his daughter, Laura and her children, Anna, Drew, and Alex Gaddy of Republic; and his son’s family, Jason, Pam, Emma, and Jessi Hankins of Republic; all of whom were his great pride and joy.
Hankins graduated from Willard High School and briefly attended MSU before enlisting in the navy. He continued serving in the Naval Reserves for several years, and continued his education at Columbia Col- lege, earning a B.S. degree in Agriculture Education from MSU in 1986. He taught Ag Ed at Liberal, Carl Junction, Walnut Grove, Buffalo, and Willard; retiring after 20 years to farm, full time. He raised commercial cattle and registered Charolais and Braunvieh cattle.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital or to the Jr. Braunvieh Association Scholarship Fund.
Services were at 6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 9, 2018, at Greenlawn Funeral Home East with Brad Shockley of- ficiating. The visitation followed the service until 8 p.m.
Committal services and Military Honors were at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 10, 2018, at Wyman Cemetery.