Athens - Don Reginald McLemore, 84, of Fordsville, Kentucky died on Wednesday, August 26, 2026 at Twin Lakes Regional Hospital in Leitchfield, Ky. He was born on December 9, 1941 in Walton, Texas to the late Emmitt Reginald and Dorothy Nell McLemore. Don graduated from Athens High School in 1960 where he was the captain of the varsity Hornet basketball team. He graduated in 1964 from Texas A&M University with his teaching degree in Vocational Agriculture. Don was a die-hard Aggie. If you didn't bleed maroon, you were just wrong! Gig 'Em!

He married Edna Sue Harris McLemore, the love of his life, on April 21, 1962. Don affectionately referred to her as The Warden. If you were ever in conversation with him and he mentioned it, everyone knew who it was.

Don moved his family to Fordsville, Ky in 1964 to begin his teaching career at Fordsville High School and Ohio County High School. Upon retiring from teaching, he also drove and retired twice from driving a school bus. When Don finally retired for good, he had worked a total of 51 years for the Ohio County Board of Education.

Don was a Kentucky Colonel, and a deacon for 32 years at Providence Baptist Church. He was a longtime member of the Fordsville Fire Department Fire Board and the Fordsville Lions Club.

He loved to plant a garden. Everyone in town knew that when planting season arrived that he would grow enough food to feed all of Fordsville. Don loved to give it away to anyone who needed or wanted it. A few of his favorite things to do was play badminton in the front yard with the grandkids and great-grandson. He was always up for playing a game of Uno. He was the Uno master.

He is preceded in death by his wife, Edna Sue McLemore, son-in-law Joel Mattingly, and parents Emmitt and Dorothy McLemore.

Don is survived by daughters Donna (Bruce) Flannery of Louisville, Dianna (Davey) Vincent of Fordsville, and Denise Clark (Tim Bullington) of Fordsville; Grandchildren Aaron Flannery of Louisville, Austin Flannery of Louisville, Samantha (Tyler) Kessinger of Fordsville, Savannah (TJ) Lucht of Cadiz, and Garrett Bellamy of Fordsville; Great-grandchildren Bentley Kessinger and Eleanor Kessinger of Fordsville; brothers Tony McLemore and Kerry McLemore of Athens, Texas; sisters Judy Weaks and Lori Ricks of Malakoff, Texas; along with several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at 2pm Sunday, August 30, 2026 at Geary Funeral Home in Fordsville with James Larry Midkiff officiating. Burial will follow in Fordsville Cemetery. Visitation will be Saturday, August 29th from 3pm to 7pm and Sunday, from noon until service time at the funeral home. Pallbearers will be Aaron Flannery, Austin Flannery, Samantha Kessinger, Savannah Lucht, Garrett Bellamy, and Bentley Kessinger. Online condolences can be made at gearyfuneralhome.com.