Donald Bush

Donald Ford Bush, 58, of Independence, MO passed away June 20, 2013 at the University of Kansas Hospital. A visitation will be 1:00-3:00 p.m. Sunday, June 23rd at Speaks Suburban Chapel, 18020 E 39th Street Independence. A Mass of Christian Burial will be 11:00 a.m. Monday, June 24th at St. Mark’s Catholic Church, Lee’s Summit Rd. Independence. Burial will be at Mt. Olivet Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Muscular Dystrophy Association; 8700 Indian Creek Parkway, Suite 340, Overland Park, KS 66210. Donald was born November 28, 1954, to Rosemary and Kenneth N. Bush and has been a resident of Independence most of his life. As a youth, he traveled to the Philippines where he lived for two years while his father served in the US Navy. While there he learned to swim, to play baseball and to bowl. When his family returned to St. Louis, Missouri and then to Independence, Missouri he continued to play Cory League and Queen City baseball in which he was an all around player. His love of sports led him to participate in bowling leagues and to play golf into his adult years. He graduated from Truman High School in 1973 and attended Central Missouri State University, Warrensburg, MO. On April 21, 1984 Don and Verlinda (Carey) were married and their union was blessed with triplets born May 7, 1994; Joseph McKenzie, Benjamin Houston, and Alyssa Danielle Bush. Donald worked at Montgomery Wards and at Nelcor. He came down with adult onset Muscular Dystrophy and spent the remainder of his life coping bravely with the progressive disease to which he succumbed after a valiant fight for life.
Donald is survived by his children, Joseph, Benjamin, and Alyssa; father, Kenneth Norman Bush and wife Betty; sister-in-law, Patty Bush; uncle, Roy Casper and wife Wilma; nephew, Michael Bush and wife Carey; step sister, Jan Jordan and husband Larry; step brother, Eric Pearson; step brother, Russell Mark Pearson and wife Susan; fifteen nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his mother, Rosemary Bush and brother, Michael Ernest Bush; maternal grandparents Ernie J. and Lorene Lovich and paternal grandparents, Kenneth M. Bush and Myrtle P. Hocket.