John Paul Donelson

John Paul Donelson, an 86-year-old Mercer County resident, died on Saturday, Jan. 31, 2015 at the Missouri Veterans Home in Cameron.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 5, 2015 at the Princeton First Christian Church with Pastor Gary Watkins officiating. Burial will be in the Fairley Cemetery, north of Princeton.
Open visitation is under way at the Greenlee-Middleton Funeral Chapel in Princeton, where the family visitation will be from 7 to 8 o’clock tonight (Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2015)
Mr. Donelson was born on June 4, 1928 in Mercer County, the son of Joseph Morgan and Hallie Hubbard Donelson. He was raised in Mercer County and was a 1947 graduate of Princeton High School.
He was married on Oct. 31, 1947 to Peggy Jean Foster, who preceded him in death on April 29, 2008.
He was a carpenter and farmer. The couple owned and operated the Donelson Supply and Lumber Company in Princeton for several years, purchased the Hayward Oil Company and Haven Restaurant of Princeton in 1980, renaming it “Peggy’s 66 Service and Diner” and owned the first Key Pump Gas Station in Princeton before retiring in 1992. After this first retirement, he worked for Mark Yungeman in the feed and fertilizer business until 1995, and then for Premium Standard Farms in their maintenance department until his final retirement in 2006. The couple enjoyed traveling to many states attending craft shows. He also enjoyed farming and time with his grandsons and great-grandchildren.
He was a member of the Princeton First Christian Church and the Princeton Memorial V.F.W. Post #7159.
He is survived by his son, Kent Donelson and his wife, Tammy of Princeton; three grandsons, Brett Donelson and his wife, Sherri of Kearney, Brock Donelson and his wife, Marcy of Cambridge, IA and Braden Donelson of Columbia; three great-grandchildren, John Riley, Millie Claire and Makenlee Ann Donelson; his brother, J Morgan Donelson and his wife, Jeania of Princeton; and by other relatives and many friends.
He was preceded in death by his wife; his parents; a niece, Cathy Donelson; and a nephew, Brian Donelson.
The family requests memorial contributions to either the Princeton First Christian Church or the Missouri Veterans Home in Cameron. Contributions may be mailed to the funeral home at PO Box 316, Princeton, MO 64673.