SERVICE
Hill & Son Funeral Home in
Appleton City, Missouri on
Monday, December 31, 2007 at
2:00 p.m.

MINISTER
Jim Knight

VISITATION
Hill & Son Funeral Home in
Appleton City, Missouri on
Monday, December 31, 2007 between
1:00-2:00 p.m.

INTERMENT
Appleton City Cemetery in
Appleton City, Missouri

MEMORIAL
Ohio Christian Church

Wilford Duane Dodson was a lifelong resident of the Ohio community of rural Lowry City, Missouri. He was born July 12, 1931 to Vernie and Edna Lucille (French) Dodson. He graduated from Appleton City High School and in 1952–1954 he served in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict. During that time he was a heavy equipment operator and with his bulldozer helped build roads, airways and building sites. He was asked to stay in the service and train others on the bulldozer but declined.
After the service he returned to the family farm and to the farming operation he had begun prior to the service. He was a true farmer at heart and built his own cow herd from one original heifer along with trading his bull calves to his dad for more heifers. He purchased a bulldozer and when his farming allowed, enjoyed clearing trees and building ponds and waterways on his own property as well as for neighbors.
He was also a very innovative welder and mechanic and made many pieces of equipment, repairs and improvements.
Even in retirement Duane lived on the farm with the love of his life, Evelyn. They married in 1968 and from that time forward were constant and true companions. She spent many hours riding the tractor with him as well as sitting in the pick-up while he farmed or ran the dozer.
They always grew a garden together and took pride in giving away a lot of it to neighbors and family. Duane always planted a large sweet corn patch for all to enjoy. He built a lake, stocked it with catfish and loved to have an annual fishing day with all the grandchildren attending. He thoroughly enjoyed watching the grandchildren grow up and in more recent years the great-grandchildren.
Duane is survived by his wife Evelyn of the home; his daughter Joyce and her husband Gary Noakes of Lowry City, Missouri; a sister Vernalee and her husband Jim Hawkins of Appleton City, Missouri; a brother J.W. Dodson of Appleton City; an aunt, Florene French of Appleton City; several grandchildren: Annette and husband Pauley Bradley of De Soto, Kansas, Carrie and husband Jeremy Knuth of West Plains, Missouri, Matthew Noakes of Lowry City and Luke Noakes also of Lowry City. Duane also enjoyed and loved his many nieces and nephews, great-grandchildren and a host of family and friends.