Walter Lee Douglas, 92, son of Oscar Lee and Lottie (Hoeck) Douglas, was born March 23, 1924, in the White Rock Community, west of Houston, Mo. He died on Saturday, July 2, 2016, at home, west of Houston, Mo.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his siblings, Margaret (Douglas) Walls, Leland Douglas, Lois (Douglas) Steele and Herbert Douglas.
Walter grew up in the White Rock Community, graduating from Houston High School in 1943. He accepted Christ as his Savior and was baptized at an early age, faithfully attending Oak Hill Christian Church all of his life, serving as an elder and in other leadership positions.
On Nov. 25, 1948, Walter was united in marriage to Laveda Randall, and to this union were born three children. Walter and Laveda began married life on 126 acres of brush and weeds with a borrowed milk cow and nine yearling heifers. Prior to their marriage, Walter had followed the wheat harvest in the Great Plains for seven years and was badly injured in a jeep wreck that nearly took his life. The young couple steadily improved the land and built a grade-A dairy barn in 1950, always continuing to expand their small farm into a successful dairy and beef operation. They were recognized in 1974 by the Eastern Missouri Farm Management Program as the Texas County honorees for that year. They were also recognized as a University of Missouri Extension Farm Family. Their farm has been named as a Missouri Century Farm.
Walter is survived by his wife, Laveda Douglas; daughters, Marilyn Malam and husband, John, of Bucyrus, Mo., and Rita Jensen and husband, Garry, of Houston, Mo.; and son, Marvin Douglas of Houston, Mo., grandchildren, Annette (Malam) Hill and husband, Tim, of Salem, Mo., Leannette (Malam) Beeson and husband, Dave, of Salem, Mo., Sara (Jensen) Edwards and husband, Chris, of Carthage, Mo., and Tara (Jensen) Volk and husband, Aaron, of Huggins, Mo.; nine great-grandchildren, Haley Arzt, Anndy Hill, Jesse Hill, Brooke Beeson, Blake Beeson, Cooper Beeson, Hudson Volk, Piper Volk and Loudon Edwards; and one great-great grandchild, Berkeley Arzt. Also surviving are a brother, Cecil Douglas of South Jordan, Utah; a sister, Gladys (Douglas) Criss of Bothel, Wash.; three sisters-in-law, Beulah Douglas of Houston, Mo.,Gloria Randall of Blackwell, Okla., and Irene (Randall) Longwell; and many nieces, nephews, other relatives and a host of friends made throughout the years.
Walter loved to travel; he and Laveda traveled to 49 of the 50 states during their marriage. He also loved to fish and hunt, going on many Canadian fishing vacations as well as wintering in Florida for several years. His love of pitching horseshoes won several tournaments. He served multiple terms as a Mid-America Dairyman voting delegate, as well as serving on the Rock Garden Christian Service Camp board. As a teen, he was one of the first campers attending Rock Garden Camp 76 years ago when the camp began.
Walter was a master at laying rock on houses; he built the rock walls on his own home, both of his daughter’s homes, the church and parsonage at Oak Hill Christian Church.
Walter was a great encourager and teacher to others; he didn’t like to be in the spotlight himself, but provided positive examples for others to follow. He loved his family and lived his life by trusting in God and accepting each day as God’s gift. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends.
Services are 2 p.m. Wednesday, July 6, 2016, at Oak Hill Christian Church with the Rev. Don Crockett officiating. Burial will be in White Rock Cemetery under the direction of Evans Funeral Home. Pallbearers were Aaron Volk, Gary Brandt, Stanley Moore, David Arthur, Chester Malam and Randy Koch.
The family has respectfully suggested that donations be made in his honor, in lieu of flowers, to the White Rock Cemetery or Rock Garden Christian Camp, 4105 State Rt. 17, Pomona, Mo., 66789. To send an online condolence, please go to www.evansfh.com.
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