MOUNT GILEAD, Ohio — Donald R. Staley, 66, of Mount Gilead, Ohio, passed away May 7.
Staley was born August 14, 1942 in Marion, Ohio, the son of the late Richard “Dick” and Edna Ivalue (Allbaugh) Staley.
A 1961 graduate of Mount Gilead High School, Staley met his wife-to-be, Patricia Geyer. They married Oct. 3, 1964, at the First Baptist Church in Mount Gilead.
Staley attended Andrews Barber College in Columbus. After finishing school he worked as a barber in Mount Gilead for two years, until he was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1966.
After his basic training he was deployed to Vietnam. While there, he first was an ammunitions guard with the job of protecting an ammunitions base. He then became a cook and also served as a barber.
Upon his honorable discharge in 1968, Staley returned to Mount Gilead to open his own barber shop for the next 36 years.
He was one of five originators of the Morrow County Junior Fair Building Fund.
As a member of the Morrow County Republican Party, Staley served three terms as County Commissioner.
Staley was a member of the Mount Gilead Lion’s Club, the Morrow County Senior Fair Board, the Morrow County Junior Fair Livestock Sale Committee, the Ohio and American Simmental Associations, Morrow County Cattleman’s Association, DKMM Solid Waste District Board, American Legion Post 97, County Commissioners Association of Ohio Alumni, the North Central Ohio Colt Stakes, the American Angus Association, Public Employee Risk Institute, the Morrow County Township Association and a past member of the Morrow County Farm Bureau.
He was a member of the Pleasant Grove Church of Christ.
Don is survived by his wife, Pat; five children, Brent Staley of Mount Gilead; Craig Staley of Mount Gilead; Pamela Staley of Mount Gilead; Adam Staley of Fredericktown and Amanda Forquer of Mount Gilead; one brother, Virgil Staley of Mount Gilead and eight grandchildren.
Services were held May 12 at the Pleasant Grove Church of Christ with Pastors Jeff Brunsman and Ray Linn officiating.
Burial with military honors provided by the V.F.W. Post 8054 and AmVets Post 87 followed in Rivercliff Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Morrow County Junior Fair Building Fund, c/o Sue Beck, 6679 County Road 76, Mount Gilead, OH 43338.
Condolences may be expressed to his family online by visiting www.snyderfuneralhomes.com.
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