Donald James Cooksey, 83, of Festus died Feb. 9, 2020, at Mercy Hospital Jefferson in Crystal City. Mr. Cooksey was a plater at Hagar Hinge in St. Louis and retired as a mold maker for Ball Foster in Pevely. Born Aug. 8, 1936, in Festus, he was the son of the late Edna (DeClue) Vick and Virgil Cooksey. He was preceded in death by his wife: Reba (Higgins) Cooksey.
He is survived by two sons: Danny (MaDonna Ennis) Cooksey and David (Krista) Cooksey, both of Festus; two daughters: Kelli (Bruce) Frana of Festus and Vicki (Eric) Merrell of Imperial; a sister: Geraldine (Norman) Vessell of Festus; 14 grandchildren: Melissa Houpt, Lindsey Johnson, Dustin (Vicki) Cooksey, Jamie Stefanic, Teresa Ennis, Angela Ennis, Donald Cooksey, Lauren Cooksey, Krista (Kyle) Allen, Kasey (Randall) Steely, Matthew Frana, Sean Merrell, Cody Merrell and Amber Merrell; and nine great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by a daughter: Donna Houpt; a brother: Kenneth (the late Margie) Cooksey and an aunt: Selma DeClue Farr.
Visitation will be at 10 a.m. until a funeral service at 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 15, at Vinyard Funeral Home, 616 W. Main St., in Festus. Burial is in the Presbyterian/Methodist Cemetery in Festus. Memorials may be made to the National MPS Society, 1007 Slater Road, Suite 220, Durham, NC 27703. Arrangements are under the direction of Vinyard Funeral Home.