A Mass of Christian Burial for Donald "Don" Gene Boucher, 74, Lawrence, will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, August 21, 2021, at Corpus Christi Catholic Church in Lawrence, KS. Burial will follow at Mt. Calvary Catholic Cemetery. Don passed away on Wednesday, August 18, 2021, at his home in the care of his family and VNA hospice nurses.
Don was born on October 6, 1946, in Hays, KS, the son of Louis and Anna (Eberle) Boucher. He attended St. Rose Catholic Grade school in Great Bend and went on to graduate from St. Francis Seminary in Victoria, Kansas in 1964. He attended St. Thomas Seminary in Denver for a semester before deciding God was calling him to marry and have a family.
He began a 41-year career with AT&T on April 26, 1965. During those years he held many positions, starting as an unlocated lineman based in Hays and ending as a switching supervisor in Lawrence from which he retired in 2005. He was active at St. John Parish and later at Corpus Christi Parish. He was a lifelong member of the Knights of Columbus. He and Mary were always involved in the music ministry including being part of the guitar Mass group at St. John. They were active in Worldwide Marriage Encounter. Don coached little league baseball and was a 4-H woodworking leader. He had a wonderful singing voice and along with Mary enjoyed vocalizing with the Corpus Christi Choir until the time of his death. He worked at Sears in the tool department for several years and enjoyed playing Santa Claus for customers. He also drove a bus for KU and was a class checker on campus. He was a past president of the Jayhawk Model Masters, a club for model airplane enthusiasts. His greatest pleasure during retirement was playing golf with friends until the later stages of Parkinson’s slowed him down. He enjoyed weekday coffee with the guys where they solved the world’s problems.
Don’s faith and his family were his greatest loves. He married Mary Linda Mumm on July 29, 1967, at St. Rose Church in Great Bend, KS. She survives at the home. He met Mary at a church youth group meeting in the spring of 1965 and always thought their marriage was made in heaven.
Don was a good “quilt husband” and supported Mary in her pursuit of the craft. He was proud to be known as Mr. Mary Boucher! He and Mary enjoyed country dancing for many years and Don played the bass guitar briefly with Cliff Downing’s band.
Other survivors include his children and grandchildren Tom (Angi) Boucher, Wake Forest, NC, Rebecca “Scout”, Calvin, Erin and Quinn; Monica (Robert) Berryman, of Lawrence, and their two sons Andrew and Zachary; daughter Mandy (Alex) del Valle, Lawrence, and their children Gabe and Sofia; and son Matthew (Amy) Boucher, of Eudora, KS, Nate, Jacob Donald and Joshua. He is survived by his sister, Treva (Gary) McCain of Neodesha and her two children Lisa Priesner Parr and Mike Priesner and numerous cousins. Don enjoyed attending the grandchildren’s activities including marching band, football, basketball, choir concerts, dance recitals, karate exhibitions and choral programs. He was a big man with a big heart and he will be sadly missed.
Don was preceded in death by his parents.
Visitation is set for 9:00 ~ 10:00 a.m., Saturday, August 21, 2021, at Corpus Christi Catholic Church, with a Rosary recitation starting at 9:00 a.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 10:00.
Memorial contributions may be made in Don’s name to Corpus Christ Catholic Church Choir, or Douglas County Visiting Nurses and may be sent in care of Warren-McElwain Mortuary, 120 W. 13th Street, Lawrence, KS 66044.