E. Earl Durnell, 80, of Cabool, passed away Tuesday, July 12, 2016.
He was born Dec. 4, 1935, son of Trevor and Verbal Durnell. He and Emily Gaye Spencer Johnson were married in 1974.
He spent his life as a rancher, logger, dairyman, cattleman, farmer, patriot and farmer’s advocate. His love of the land and livestock and his responsibility as their steward shaped nearly every day of his life.
He was a third generation farmer. His great-grand-parents began farming in Cabool on an 80-acre homestead. His parents raised him on a nearby farm and after marriage, he bought both farms and additional land for a total of 534 acres. He then worked the land into a farm of more than 1,600 acres in three counties, including three Missouri Century farms.
Earl was educated for eight years in the Ozark County School District and graduated from Cabool Schools in 1954. He then attended Missouri State College for two years, where he deepened his passion of economics, history and mathematics.
Earl was a columnist for the Springfield News-Leader for several years and having strong political views, ran for Congress as a farmer’s advocate.
He and his wife were avid square dancers for several years and were featured in Smithsonian Magazine.
Survivors include his wife of 43 years, Emily Gaye Spencer Johnson; a son, Philip Durnell; three daughters, Theresa Wood and Cheryl; three stepchildren, Kathleen Woelfersheim, Connie Colton, Daniel Johnson; and many grandchildren.
Services were Monday, July 18, at Elliott-Gentry-Carder Funeral Home. Burial was in Cabool Cemetery.