David Arnold Tummons

David Arnold Tummons (1945-2020), of Bois D'Arc, Missouri, left
this world for his eternal home on September 29, 2020 after a
week-long battle with COVID.
David was boisterous. He had a zest for life, which he shared
with all who knew him. He had hundreds of friends and never met a
stranger. He found great joy in telling jokes, singing, and
visiting with family and friends over a cup of coffee. David
appreciated the small things in life, and he would get excited
about even the smallest of victories. He only had one speed: full
throttle. He ran 100% and 100MPH in everything he did. David
approached life with unbridled optimism about the future; he
lived deeply.
David dedicated his life to teaching youth. David was a science
teacher, coach, pep club sponsor, and bus driver for 52 years,
working in Mountain Grove (1968-1969), Miller (1969-1971), and
Ash Grove (1971-2020) Schools. David invested his life in
teaching kids. He valued hard work, honesty, and respect, and he
held his students to a very high standard. He served as a project
leader for Bois D’Arc Braves 4-H, Sunday School leader at Bois
D’Arc United Methodist Church, and spent many nights and
weekends driving the pep bus, chaperoning band trips and FFA
events, and teaching driver’s ed/bus driving to everyone who
asked. David hired youth each summer to help him with his custom
hay operation, and his favorite part was teaching them how to
operate and maintain equipment.
David was an avid agriculturalist. David grew up milking and
showing Registered Shorthorn cattle at their farm in Willard.
David milked cows while attending Willard High School (1963) and
Southwest Missouri State University (BS Agriculture, 1967), then
began working at the USDA Poultry Station Manager in Mountain
Grove, Missouri. In 1970, David and Kay Ann moved to her
grandparent’s century farm in Bois D'Arc, Missouri, where they
raised hay, cattle, and kids. David was a tractor collector and
loved his John Deere equipment. He took great pleasure in
bringing bottle calves to elementary ag days, watching grandkids
Sam and Sadie Tummons show their animals at the fair, and hosting
hay rides on their farm. David was a charter member of the Ash
Grove Young/Adult Farmers, the Ash Grove FFA Booster Club, and
was a member of the Republic Steam Engine Association.
David was a man of action. David had a strong sense of right and
wrong and acted quickly to help those in need. David was often
the first to volunteer help neighbors and the community; no
challenge was too great. In particular, David sought out youth
who struggled in traditional school or who needed some extra help
in life. He saw it as his duty to serve as mentor, life coach,
and even second parent.
David was married for 53 years to Kay Ann (Buckler) Tummons, his
high school sweetheart. Kay Ann and David enjoyed trips with
family to Colorado and to the Gulf of Mexico. David is survived
by Kay Ann and their two sons, Joe Bill Tummons of Bois D’Arc,
and Dr. John David Tummons, wife Elizabeth, and grandkids Samuel
and Sadie Tummons of Columbia. He is also survived by brother
Richard Tummons of Columbia, sisters Kathy Wrinkle and Gale Jones
of Springfield, and mother Martha Wommack Tummons of Willard.
David showed us how to savor each day, teach the next generation,
find dignity in hard work, and take action on what is important.
Acts 13:36.