John Albert Douglas

John Albert Douglas of Piggott, was born October 12, 1939, near Caraway, to Walter William and Roxie Foust Douglas. He passed away Tuesday, February 13, 2018, at St. Bernards Medical Center surrounded by family at the age of 78 years, four months and one day.

John's family moved to the Sedgwick area when he was a toddler and he grew up there. He started hunting and fishing at an early age and he continued both activities his entire life. John started working odd jobs at an early age and quit school to go to work full time as a carpenter. He eventually had his own crew and contracted many building jobs in the Jonesboro area. A client could give John the dimensions of any project wanted to be built and in a short time frame he could calculate all the needed materials with precise accuracy.

John served six years in the Arkansas National Guard and two deployments were noteworthy: He was deployed to Little Rock in September 1957 in response to the Little Rock Nine Central High School Integration. Then, in October 1963, John served in a security detail when President John F. Kennedy visited Heber Springs to dedicate Greers Ferry Lake. This was the last major public appearance before President Kennedy lost his life on November 22, 1963, in Dallas.

John eventually went back to school completing his GED requirements and taking college courses to qualify him for employment with the US Department of Agriculture and the Federal Farm Home Administration. He retired with 25 years of government service.

Following retirement, John spent the next few years working on his little hunting farm in Randolph County as well as being a bail bondsman for Bob and Sunshine Pope for 10 years.

John was raised in a Christian home and his mom made sure all of her children went to church and loved God. John was not much of a church-goer, but he lived a moral life and recently reaffirmed his faith in Jesus Christ. John's word was as good as gold and he spoke the truth whether you wanted to hear it or not. He was kind-hearted and would do anything he could to help others.

The best day of his life was in 1964 when his son John Jeffrey was born. He started taking Jeff with him everywhere he went when Jeff was quite young. John was so proud of all his son did. The second best day of his life was in 1989 when he married his best friend Dee Ann Madison. They enjoyed 28 years of marriage. Dee retired in 2015 to give full attention to his failing health.

John and Dee got to take many trips over the years. They traveled to Texas for deer hunting, to Grand Isle of Louisiana for deep sea fishing and the Florida Everglades for Oscar fishing among other destinations. John never ran out of stories to share about his travels, adventures, growing up or building houses.

John was preceded in death by his parents; 4 sisters: Grace Dorton, Juanita Dobbs, Veta Meurer and Maxine Rose; 3 brothers: Dobbin Douglas, Sonny Douglas and W.G. Douglas; and three nephews.

Survivors include his wife, Dee, of the home.
1 son and daughter-in-law, Jeff and Sherri Douglas of Rector;
1 brother and his wife, Robert and Joann Douglas of Bono;
1 sister and her husband, Jeannie and Willis Phelps of Salem;
2 brothers-in-law: Russell Dorton of Jonesboro and Jack Meurer of Bono;
1 sister-in-law, Daphene Douglas of Sedgwick;
many nieces, nephews, and grand nieces and nephews.
Also surviving are Dee's family that he loved as his own: Larry and Lynn Featherston of Jonesboro, Roger and Debbie Scott of Piggott, Vance and Leah Madison of Qulin, Missouri, and many additional nephews, nieces and many friends.

Funeral services will be at 11:00 a.m. Friday in Emerson Memorial Chapel with Charles Richardson and Jacob Richardson officiating. Visitation will be 10-11 Friday.
Active pallbearers include James Dorton, Steve Dorton, Farley Douglas, Lance Madison, Holden Madison, Brad Wright and Greg McMillon.

A graveside committal service will be at 1:30 p.m. Friday in Piggott Cemetery with Emerson Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.

For lasting memorials, the family asks that consideration be given to the charity of the donor's choice.