Cpl. Donald Eugene Matney ( Seymour)'s Obituary
Donald Eugene Matney was born April 11, 1932 in Seymour, Missouri to Silas and Willa M. (Tarbutton) Matney who were married in 1911. He was one of 9 children. Donald attended Seymour schools prior to enlisting in the United States Army on August 17, 1949 at the age of 17.
Private First Class Matney was listed as MIA (missing in action) during a series of engagements with the enemy in July of 1950 during the Korean War. He was posthumously promoted to Corporal. In 1951 the military returned a box of possessions to his mother Willa for safe keeping and included in that was a bundle of letters and pictures sent back and forth to home. According to the military report given to his family he had been buried in Korea by a farmer who in later years showed the military the grave location.
Donald is survived by a sister Ruth Van Ness and a brother Leonard Matney, both of Seymour and many nieces and nephews and other family members.
He was preceded in death by his father Silas in October of 1938, his mother Willa in October of 1965; 2 brothers Warren Matney and William Matney and 4 sisters Anna Davidson, Alice Brunson, Maxine Simmons and Dorothy Matney who died as a young child.
The family would like to thank one of his nieces Sandra Gormley and husband Tom of the state of Colorado who were instrumental in dealing with the military to assure his identification thus allowing closure and for him to be returned home.
Under the care and direction of the Holman-Howe Funeral Home in Seymour.
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