William Homer “Bill” Douglas Jr., 88, passed away on January 8, 2026, in Overland Park, Kansas. A beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and good friend to many, Bill lived a full and vibrant life.
Bill was born on December 14, 1937, in Rich Hill, MO, to William and Edith Douglas. Bill graduated from Rich Hill High School in 1955 before embarking on a career that spanned several decades. He began his professional journey with the Bank of Warsaw in Warsaw, MO. After moving to Fort Scott, KS in 1962, he began a job at Security State Bank followed by an 11-year tenure with the Western Insurance Companies. He later joined Citizens National Bank and served as a vice president and loan officer for 25 years until he retired in 1999. Alongside his civilian career, Bill served in the Army National Guard followed by the Army Reserves.
In 1960, Bill married Donna Carolyn (Goodenough), with whom he shared 65 years of love and companionship. Together they built a life filled with adventure and shared experiences. In their younger years, they enjoyed camping trips with their daughters to a range of locations, from Farlington Lake to Yellowstone to Florida. He and Donna later traveled to Hawaii, Alaska and every other state but North Dakota plus several European destinations and popular cruise locales. They wintered for nineteen years in Weslaco, TX, returning each year to reunite with their Texas friends and family. Of course, many trips were also made to Branson to sight-see, enjoy music, and take a few whirls on the dance floor to his favorite country song, “All My Exes Live in Texas.”
A man of faith, Bill was a founding member of Community Christian Church in Fort Scott, KS, where he served as both deacon and elder and often lent his voice to the church choir. He and Donna later attended Rinehart Christian Church in Richards, MO.
Known for his wit and fun-loving spirit, Bill had a gift for bringing laughter into any room. Whether at work or among friends, he was always ready with a joke or light-hearted comment. His enthusiasm also extended into the outdoors—he had a passion for motorcycles and often took weekend biking trips with his buddies.
In addition to his wife, Donna (Goodenough) Douglas, other survivors include daughters Carolyn (Tom Blau) Jaqua, Kansas City, MO; Marilyn (Mitch) Yung, Springfield, MO. Surviving grandchildren and great-grandchildren include Lauren (Aaron) Hannon of Shawnee, KS and their three children, Hayes, Jane, and Ivy; Katherine (Andrija) Markovic, Overland Park, KS and their son, Matija; Collin (Gabby) Yung, Kansas City, MO; Ryan Jaqua, Lenexa, KS.
Rev. Kevin Moyers will conduct funeral services at 11:00 AM Monday, January 12th at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Burial will follow in the Evergreen Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 10:00 until service time Monday at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to Rinehart Christian Church and may be left in care of Cheney Witt Funeral Chapel, PO Box 347, 201 S. Main St., Fort Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted online at cheneywitt.com.