Dale Gene Durham

Dale Gene Durham, 73 of Bates City, MO passed away on Sunday, January 21, 2024, at home surrounded by family.

Rosary will be recited at 5:30 p.m., Friday, January 26, 2024, at Ralph O. Jones Funeral Home, 306 S. 2^nd St., Odessa, MO, 64076, 816-633-5524.  Visitation will follow from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Friday, January 26, 2024, at the funeral home.  A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, January 27, 2024, at St. George Catholic Church, 714 S. 3^rd St., Odessa, MO, 64076.  Rite of Committal will be at All Saints Cemetery in Glasgow, MO.   Memorials are suggested to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.  Memories of Dale and condolences for his family may be left at www.LedfordFamilyFH.com or on our Facebook Page.  

Dale was born on July 22, 1950, in Gilliam, MO to Archie Jackson and Velma Rita (Ford) Durham.  He attended Orearville and Slater Schools.  On April 11, 1969, Dale married Patricia Schwartze at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Glasgow, MO.  He worked at GM Leed’s Plant in Kansas City for many years before going to work for Missouri Department of Transportation.  Dale retired from MoDot in 2009 after 23 years of service.  He always had a love for the outdoors and in addition to working at GM and MoDot, Dale enjoyed farming.  Dale was a member of St. George Catholic Church in Odessa, MO.   In addition to spending time with family and friends, Dale enjoyed fishing, hunting, bailing hay, watching sprint car races, joking around with others, and will always be remembered for his smile.   

Dale is survived by five children, Stacy (Jeremy) Vaughn, Greenwood, MO, Shelly Dickmeier of Odessa, MO, Tammy Durham of Grain Valley, MO, Jamie Durham of Odessa, MO, and Jason (Rebecca) Durham of Bates City, MO; eleven grandchildren, Weston Durham, Shiann Durham, Andrew Durham, Colby McCartney, Jaythan McCartney, Andrea Dickmeier, Evan Dickmeier, Joshua Durham, Jessica Vaughn, Jake Vaughn, and Brittany Durham; four great-great grandchildren, Everleigh Durham, Waylon Durham, Gavin Durham, and Roslyn Durham; one sister, Beverly McMellen of Springfield, MO; brothers, J.B. (Anita) Durham of Marshall, MO, and Paul (Wanda) Durham of Malta Bend, MO; a sister-in-law Edna Durham of Aarow Rock, MO; and a brother-in-law, Rodger Wilson of Osage Beach, MO; and many nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

In addition to his parents, Dale was preceded in death by his loving wife Patricia Durham; five sisters, Claudine Durham, Erma Wilson, Patricia Miller, Dorothy Fuemmeler, and Leona Skinner; and two brothers, Jearl Durham and Richard Durham.