Douglas Duane “Big Doug” Bower, age 47, a resident of rural Deerfield, Missouri, left this earth for a better place on the other side, Saturday, May 26, 2018, at the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City, Kansas.

He was born November 5, 1970, in Ft. Scott, Kansas, the son of John Henry Bower and Amelia Elizabeth Jones Bower. Doug graduated from Nevada High School. He had been employed by Ward-Kraft and later for the Deerfield Conoco Station. Doug enjoyed nature. He liked hiking and camping and spending time with his family and friends.

Survivors include his parents, John and Amelia Bower, of Deerfield; a sister, Jill Love and husband, Ron, of Deerfield; three brothers, Rick Jones, of Ft. Scott, Jason Bower and wife, Thabena, of Deerfield, and Tony Bower of Clarksville, Tennessee. Also surviving are nieces, Jessica Bower, of Fresno, California, Rebecca Bower, of Clarksville, Tennessee, Alyson Love, of Deerfield, Micala and Preslee Bower, also of Deerfield, Kendria Brown and husband, Jerome, of Norcross, Georgia and Haley Jones of Ft. Scott; and nephews, Josh Jones and wife, Karen, of Ft. Scott, Dustin Jones and wife, Tabitha of Jacksonville, Florida and Quentin, Gavin and Evan Love of Deerfield; six great-nieces, four great-nephews and several aunts, uncles and cousins. Also surviving are his beloved dogs, Dapper Dan and Pete who were like his children.

Following cremation, the family will receive friends from 5 to 7 P.M. Thursday at the Cheney Witt Chapel.

Private burial will follow at a later date.

Memorials are suggested to Lee’s Paws & Claws and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, P.O. Box 347, Ft. Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.