Donald Eugene Claypool

Donald E. Claypool, 79, of Kirksville, MO, (formerly of Morris, IL), passed away unexpectedly at Boone Hospital Center in Columbia, MO, on Tuesday, August 30, 2016.

Donald Eugene Claypool was born in Morris, IL, on January 30, 1937, the son of Ersie and Clarence Claypool. He graduated from Morris High School in 1957 and began a longtime career with Illinois Bell. Don was also in the US Army Reserves for 12 years. He married Nora “Bunny” Claire. The couple later divorced. Donald married Helen (Hoover) Nicolay at Jumers Castle Lodge in Bettendorf, IA, on July 12, 1980.

Don was a lifetime member of Tri City motorcycle club where he raced and enjoyed motocross. He also enjoyed collecting tools, attending demolition derbys, riding motorcycles, gambling and dancing; he also loved animals. Don and Helen opened their frog museum to the public and they were known as Toad and Frog Lady. Toad enjoyed going to antique malls, collecting frogs with this wife and collecting raccoons and monkeys for his two sisters-in-law, Jenny, and Bev. He was a jack-of-all-trades kind of man. He was an IBEW member and was president of the Board of the Pollock Community Building for several years. Don and several community people, including Dale Lafaver, remodeled and put on an addition to the Pollock Community building. Don was baptized of the Protestant faith.

Survivors include his wife and three sons, Donald E. Claypool, II of Oquawka, IL, Steven Q. Claypool of Springfield, IL, and Leonard M. Nicolay, III, and wife Tina, of Milan, MO. He is also survived by granddaughter Megan Nicolay Asher and her husband Zackary, grandson Matthew Nicolay, great granddaughter Lacy Asher, sister Bette Young of Dwight, IL, and brother Danny Knowles and his wife Marie of Morris, IL.

Donald was preceded in death by his parents and by a daughter, Iva Kay Nicolay, on March 1, 1983.

Funeral services for Donald will be held at Playle and Collins Family Funeral Home in Unionville, MO, at 1:00 pm on Saturday, September 3, 2016. Visitation will be on Friday, September 2, from 6:00 – 8:00 PM. Burial will be at the Scobee Cemetery, Pollock, MO.

Memorials are suggested to the donor’s choice.