Donald Charles Staas

Donald Charles Staas, age 67 of Gatlinburg, Tennessee, went home to be with his Lord on Wednesday, December 20, 2006, with his loving family by his side. He was a devoted husband, father and grandfather. As a widely respected businessman, Don retired as the owner and operator of Southgate Volkswagen, Honda Inc. in Heath, Ohio and Prudential Village Realty Place in Punta Gorda, Florida. Don always lended a helping hand whenever it was needed. He was an active member of the Newark and Punta Gorda Rotary Clubs, a Paul Harris Fellow and a Councilman for the City of Heath. As an avid sports fan, but lousy golfer, Don was a member of the Ohio State University Presidents’ Club and a Tampa Bay Bucks’ Club House seat holder. A life long Presbyterian and member of the Evergreen Presbyterian Church, he not only believed but lived a life serving his Lord actively as an elder in both Second Presbyterian Church of Newark, Ohio and First Presbyterian Church of Port Charlotte, Florida. Don was preceded in death by his first wife, Mary Melville Staas and his parents, Charles Underhill and Elida Anderson Staas. Continuing in his loving ways are his children and their spouses, Craig and Blair Staas of Fort Myers, Florida; Lindsay and Jim DeYoung of Defiance, Missouri; Michelle and Ronald Blake of Heath, Ohio; Kristen and Christopher Hollinger of Hilliard, Ohio; Braden and Trisha Schenk of Lewis Center, Ohio; thirteen wonderful grandchildren; his loving, devoted and thankful wife of 30 years, Vicki Jo Keyes Staas and Don’s two special pals, Tag and Maggie. In lieu of flowers, Don requested that memorials be made to Evergreen Presbyterian Church, 1103 Dolly Parton Parkway, Sevierville, Tennessee 37862. Vicki and the family would like to express their thankfulness for the outpouring of love from their friends, their Evergreen Church family, LeConte Family Medicine, especially Dr. Rodney Carter and his precious Linda, the Adventa Hospice of Sevier County, and to the Liar’s Club and Truth Table gang. We also give special thanks to Chuck and Bonnie Schulz, who gave us their Bradenton home for use while going back and forth to H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Research Center in Tampa, Florida. We also extend thanks to our Pastor, Brad Bradford, and his family for all their counseling, love and aide through this difficult time. God bless you all, for God is good. A memorial service will be held at Evergreen Presbyterian Church at 11:00 a.m. on January 6, 2007. Pastor Brad Bradford and Dr. Charles Dougherty will be officiating. For further details, please call the church at 865-428-3001.