It took four tries before Mother and Daddy got their boy, but once Donald Charles came along, they were happy! Born 2-26-1957, Donnie had much expected of him. He was the second grandson to carry the Moxley name. Daddy was one of three boys out of 12 children. Daddy had Donnie, Bud had Chip, and J.T. had two girls. And it was important to keep the Moxley name going. But I'm ahead of myself.
As a little boy, Donnie excelled at sports! He could run faster and jump higher then all the little boys he played with. Everyone knew right away that he would play baseball - probably because he threw his food farther than we girls ever had done. AND he was left handed. Lands' sake, he was destined to be a major league pitcher. Give that boy a ball and he instinctively knew what to do with it. Donnie was also as good looking as his father, so all the girls fell in love with him. He always came home on Valentine's Day with more candy hearts than anyone else. Oh, and candy. He would trick or treat with us, but then save his candy instead of eating right away like I did. Then if I wanted some of his, he would charge me for it! Yet another fabulous attribute - he was a genius as well!
Jokes aside, Donnie was all those things! He lettered in baseball, track, and basketball in high school. He played the trumpet and the guitar and was valedictorian of his graduating class. As predicted he was scouted for the major leagues and played for the William Jewel College Cardinals until a shoulder injury ended his career. And he was a nice person to boot! Donnie graduated with a BS in Economics, but decided to farm with Daddy. In 1983 he married Susan Hines Rhode, and they began a family of three boys. In 1984, shortly after Daddy's death, Donnie went to work for Pepsi Bottling in Brookfield, MO as a driver and would become their general manager, which job he still holds in 2019.
Donnie is an avid golfer and both he and Susan love to fish. They have a camper at Warsaw, Missouri and spend as much time on Truman Lake as their busy lives allow. They also spend time doting on their six grandchildren who all live in Missouri, so when the crappie are running their camper gets pretty full.