Dale "Wes" Wesley Donley

Dale Wesley "Wes" Donley, 92, of Ashland, Missouri passed away on June 6, 2025, surrounded by family and friends.

Wes was born to Dale and Winifred White Donley on June 3, 1933, in Big Neck, Adams County, Illinois. He grew up on the family farm, graduated from Unity High School in Mendon, IL, completed specialized Cummins Diesel certification in St. Louis and received his Bachelor of Science from Bradley University in Peoria, IL. Wes served in the Army at Fort Ord during the Korean War.

He married Sharon Ann Wilson, the love of his life, on May 25, 1957, in Belleville, Illinois. They had two children, Kimberlin "Cricket" and Michael. Sharon passed before Wes in 2017, after 60 years of marriage.

Wes loved diesel mechanics and went to work for United Parcel Service in 1961 as a mechanic. Upon his retirement from UPS in 1990 as a Fleet Supervisor, Wes' territory covered roughly 1/3 of the state of Missouri. The territory he was responsible for shifted many times. As a result, he worked with mechanics in nearly every UPS center in Missouri over the years.

Beyond work, Wes loved Harley Davidson motorcycles, time spent on the water in his boat at the Lake of the Ozarks and travel in general. Over the years, Wes drove his family to all corners of the US in a 20-foot mini-motorhome, camping and seeing the country. In later years, he and Sharon enjoyed motorcycle travel with the "Retreads" organization and cruise vacations to the Caribbean, Alaska and the British Isles.

Service to his community was a strong theme in his life. He was a 55-year member of Optimist International, active in the Sunrise Optimists in Columbia and the Ashland Optimists in Ashland, MO. He also received his 50-year pin as a Scottish Rite 32nd Degree Mason.

On a personal level, Wes was known for his incredibly strong work ethic, his generosity with both his skills and his time and his upbeat positivity. While a massive stroke in 1995 altered the course of his life, it didn't alter his can-do determination and positive outlook. Although the stroke left him paralyzed on one side of his body, he learned to walk again, and was even able to drive a full-size pickup and a three-wheeled motorcycle. He enjoyed mowing his yard with a mower pulled behind his side-by-side UTV. He spent the last several years of his life living at Lenoir Woods in Columbia, MO, where he touched the lives of all who cared for him. Watching him overcome adversity with a smile on his face, Wes became a hero and role-model for his family and many in the community who knew and loved him.

Wes is survived by a daughter, Cricket (Bruce) Hackmann of Ashland, MO; and son Michael Donley, of Chesterfield, MO; two brothers, Keith Donley (Norma) of Quincy, IL and Larry Donley (Sharon) of Mendon, IL; two sisters, Patricia (Jim) Sorenson of Atkinson, IL and Linda Duncan of Quincy, IL; two grandsons, Cody Hackmann (Payton) and Jake Hackmann (Ashley), both of Ashland; and two great-grandchildren, Maryn and Beau Hackmann; with one more one the way; along way, all of Ashland.

Visitation will be from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m., Thursday, June 12, 2025, at Robinson-Yager Funeral Home. The funeral service will be at 11:00 a.m., Friday, June 13, 2025, at the Funeral Home. Burial will follow the service at New Salem Cemetery, Ashland.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Ashland Optimist Club.

Robinson-Yager Funeral Home is honored to serve the Donley Family.

Condolences may be shared at www.robinsonyager.com.