Walnut Ridge-Don DePriest, 85, of Walnut Ridge passed away October 7, 2016 at St Bernard's Regional Medical Center in Jonesboro.  He was born April 17, 1931 to Eli Jackson and Hazel Elizabeth Kell DePriest in Black Rock.  He married Carolyn Flippo on November 12, 1952 in Paragould.  He was a school administrator, teacher, coach and principal at Black Rock, Arkansas, Birch Tree, Van Buren, and Ellsinore, Missouri. He was also a high school basketball official for over 25 years in Arkansas and Missouri.  Don was Boy Scout Master of Troop 56 in Black Rock, and past president of Black Rock Lion's Club.  He was an army veteran serving during the Korean War. He was saved at the Assembly of God Church in Black Rock at the age of 13, and was presently a member of Crossroads Baptist Church in Portia.

Preceding him in death were his parents; sister Marion Dawson; and son-in-law Russell Jessen.

Survivors include his wife, Carolyn of the home; daughters, Debbie Jessen of Bono and Marsha Blanchard of Kennett, Missouri; five grandchildren, Beth Hook, Jana Crowell, Jason Lunn, Cara Shirai, and Amy Shell; great grandchildren, Jalynn, Aiden and Kenna Claire Hook, Brayden and Karlie Crowell, Addison, Kennedy, and Ella Shell, Maxwell Shirai, Jalynn Hood, and Madilyn Droddy.

Visitation will be Sunday, October 9, 2016 from 1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m. at Cox Funeral Home in Walnut Ridge with funeral services following at 3:00 pm at Cox Funeral Home Chapel. Gaylon Russell and Mike Frost will officiate.  Burial will be at Oak Forest Cemetery in Black Rock under the direction of Cox Funeral Home in Walnut Ridge.

Honored to serve as pallbearers are nephews and grandsons.

Serving as honorary pallbearers will be the men's Sunday School Class at Crossroads Baptist Church, Franklin Smith, Norman Kyger, and Conway Weir.