Donald L. Meredith
Donald Lewis Meredith, 80, of Grain Valley, Missouri, passed away peacefully on November 2, 2020 after a short struggle with Covid-19. A private graveside service is planned. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations may be made to the KSU Foundation Donald Meredith Memorial No. M47329, 1800 Kimball Ave., Suite 200, Manhattan, KS 66502 or make a gift online at www.ksufoundation.org/give/memorials, showing fund M47329; or Alzheimer’s Association, Heart of America Chapter, 3846 W. 75th St., Prairie Village, KS 66208; or American Diabetes Association, ADA, P.O. Box 7023, Merrifield, VA 22116.
Don was born May 25, 1940 to Joe and Eulah Mae (Pfile) Meredith in Clay Center, Kansas. He grew up on the family farm and worked at the family business, the Clay Center Sale Barn, with his dad and his grandfather Pfile until he entered Kansas State University. Don graduated from Clay Center High School in 1958, where he was a first-string guard on the league champion football team and first chair trumpet in the band. It was during his time at Clay Center High that he began dating Karen Campbell. On one of their early dates, he had a flat tire, which caused him to be quite late in returning her home. Needless to say, he had some explaining to do when he did. Don continued his music education at Kansas State University, earning two degrees – Bachelor of Science in music education and Master of Music. While working on his master’s, he was assistant band director at K-State. Despite the rocky start with the flat tire, he married his high school sweetheart, Karen Campbell, on June 4, 1961 at the First Presbyterian Church in Clay Center.
While in college, he played lead trumpet in the Matt Betton Orchestra, a regional dance band of great renown at the time, which played throughout central and eastern Kansas. He also worked at the Stan Kenton Jazz clinics for several summers. The highlight of this experience was playing in Kenton’s big band each summer. In fact, he was offered a touring position in Kenton’s trumpet section once he graduated university. But, after much soul searching and discussion with other touring musicians, he decided life on the road was not for him. His calling, instead, was to teach. After graduation from K-State in 1964, Don began his teaching career at Hiawatha High School in Hiawatha, Kansas. Sons Douglas “Doug” and William “Bill” were born in Hiawatha. Doug has a fleeting but fond memory of following his dad around the marching band practice field while he laid out the lines. Don’s teaching career spanned all age levels. After Hiawatha, he went on to teach at Kearney State College (now University) in Kearney, Nebraska, followed by Topeka High School, Topeka West High School, and Shawnee Heights Middle School, all in Topeka, Kansas. His richest (and as so often happens, most frustrating) teaching experiences came from Topeka High School. During his tenure there, he integrated the stage band programs, which in the early 1970’s, were still unofficially segregated. In the process, he learned that a jazz titan, Coleman Hawkins, had attended Topeka High around 1920, which led him to hold a special concert to publicize this fact. Don led the Topeka Jazz Workshop, a jazz band and appreciation society, for several years. One of his responsibilities during this time was hosting visiting professional jazz musicians. The family has many memories of these evenings, sharing dinner with legendary individuals such as Clark Terry, Zoot Sims, Gil Evans, and Dizzy Gillespie. When not teaching or leading bands, Don was an engaged father to his sons: building pedal-car rocket ships with Doug and teaching him to play blues on keyboard and trumpet; featuring Bill’s funny duck voice in concert and helping Bill with his kart racing and other sports; and, perhaps most important, teaching them an appreciation for all kinds of music, which they would come to appreciate later in life. Don retired from teaching in 2001. Don and Karen enjoyed retirement and traveled extensively. He was a great HODAR (husband of DAR) supporting her in her DAR activities, volunteering with her at the Agricultural Center and Hall of Fame, the New Generation Harvey Girls Kids’ Christmas Train, and fundraisers for the restoration of the Fred Harvey Home in Leavenworth, KS. For health reasons, in 2015 Don and Karen moved from Tonganoxie, KS to Grain Valley, MO to be closer to son Bill and family.
Don was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his wife of 59 years Karen; sons, Douglas (Roula) of Tucson, Arizona, and Bill (Teresa) of Oak Grove, Missouri; grandchildren, Sabine, Nia, and Christopher; brother, Keith Meredith of Tucson, Arizona; nephews, Kurt Meredith (Andi) and their children Samra and Moreka of Portland, Oregon, Mark Meredith and daughter Natassja of Tucson, Arizona, and Scott Meredith of Tucson, Arizona. The family would like to thank the staff at Shangri-La Rehab and Living Center for their care and dedication towards Don and all the other residents. The family would also like to thank Ascend Hospice for helping Don in his final days and being there when family could not.
Arrangements: Royer Funeral Home, Grain Valley, MO 816-847-4441