Douglas Wayne Brown, 65, of Rogersville, MO, passed away Friday, September 30, 2022, in his home. Doug was born on October 3, 1956 in Kansas City, KS, the second son of Robert Lee and Bettie Lou Green-Brown.

Doug was raised in Turners, MO, by his mother and stepfather, Bettie and Clarence Turner and grew up attending Mt. Pisgah United Methodist Church. He graduated from Logan-Rogersville High School in 1974. During High School, he ran cross country. On June 5, 1977, Doug married his wife, Karen Morris and from this union, three children were born – Sybil Renee, Christopher Wayne, and Anthony Todd. Doug and his wife, Karen, were married for over 45 years.

Doug put his faith in God at a young age as a child. He said he enjoyed going to church and loved church camp. He came to a stronger belief and faith in Jesus in his early 20s. He received salvation through Jesus Christ and was baptized and filled with the Holy Spirit. He was a believer and Jesus Christ was his hero! He wanted to be a peacemaker and tried to be kind and loving to all people no matter what!

Doug worked for Gee Leong at Gee’s East Wind for many years in the 1970s and 1980s. During that time, he learned to perfect his own take on Cashew Chicken and Fried Rice, which he enjoyed making for his family. There were many Springfield Style Cashew Chicken and Fried Rice meals cooked over the years by Doug that were 2^nd to none. His talent with this culinary skill was a hidden treasure that his family enjoyed for years. During the 1970s and 1980s, Doug also worked for the Union Stock Yards. It was not uncommon for Doug to work more than one job at a time to provide for his family. Doug began working for Kraft Foods in September 1987, and retired December 2013 after a 26-year career in various positions at the plant.

Doug was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents – Lloyd and Irene Brown, his paternal step-grandparents – Otto and Ethel Turner, his maternal grandparents Lewis and Edith Green, his father Bob Brown, his stepfather Clarence Turner, his brother Bruce Brown, his father-in-law and mother-in-law Junior and Verda Morris, his sister-in-law Kathy Marquis, his best friend, Arlie Watson Jr., and his long time friend and Pastor, Brother Randy Fish.

He is survived by his mother Bettie Turner – Springfield, MO, his wife Karen Brown – Rogersville, MO, his daughter Sybil Brown-Curtis and her husband Marc – Springfield, MO, his son Christopher Brown and his wife Kristina – Marshfield, MO, and his son Anthony Todd Brown and his wife Lacy – Springfield, MO.

Nine Grandchildren – Dylan Brown, Mikaela Brown, Andrew Brown, Phillip Brown, Benson Brown, Michael Rose, Amanda Rose, Carleecia Curtis, and Alyssa Mitchell. Two great grandsons – Landon Rose and Jaxon Rose.

Also surviving are his brother, Mike Turner and his wife Rita – Buffalo, MO, his sister, Luann Turner-Musgrave and her husband Jack – Springfield, MO, his sister, Janet Turner-Stafford and her husband Mark – Springfield, MO, his sister Valerie Castillo and her husband Nabil Alhasan – Kansas City, KS, and his sister Roberta Mick-Brown and her wife, Lori – Merriam, KS, as well as numerous nephews, nieces, aunts, uncles, cousins, brothers-in-law, and sisters-in-law, and many friends.

One thing that was undeniable about Doug. If he did something, he was passionate about it and did it to the best of his abilities. Whether it was trying to be the best he could be as a worker, or taking the best photo of a flower, he did it with all of his heart, soul, and strength. Doug valued true friendship. If you were his friend, you were his friend for life. Over the years, Doug had many hobbies. He loved to fish at Stockton Lake. He enjoyed camping with his family. He loved basketball. It was not uncommon to see him at Logan-Rogersville basketball games with his kids. There were many pickup games and games of HORSE played with his kids at the hoop on the back shed and later, at the hoop in the circle driveway. He enjoyed bicycle rides with his kids, frequent cookouts on the James River gravel bar and swimming with his family. He loved playing golf with his sons. He loved watching NBA basketball, horse races, golf, and all sports with his family on a Sunday afternoon on the television. He had a great appreciation for music of all kinds, especially a love for Elvis Presley, 60s and 70s rock and Gospel music. Doug was a jokester and loved to laugh and have fun with his friends, family, and coworkers. He was an amazing father and did the very best he could to provide for his family, create lasting memories, and teach his children right from wrong. He instilled in his children the importance of working hard and always doing your best. He taught them the importance of loving everyone and being kind to all. He was respectful and taught his children the importance of respecting others. He taught his children so many wonderful things through his own example of how he lived his life. He taught his children the importance of having faith in God and who Jesus was. He was a very good father. He truly did his best.

His siblings and friends of Doug’s would tell you he was a storyteller and would tell funny stories. He loved his wife, Karen, his mother, Bettie, and his entire family very deeply with all of his heart. He loved his kids. He loved each and every one of his siblings very much and loved spending time with them laughing and visiting. They had many fun times over the years growing up together.

Doug also went by the name, Papaw. He was so proud of each and every one of his grandchildren and great grandchildren. It was a role he took very seriously and loved his grandchildren with all of his heart and enjoyed spending time with them going to the park, going on nature hikes, going to the zoo, or taking a trip to Chuck E Cheese for pizza and games!

He also loved to play video games with his children. He loved playing a good game of Galaga with his brother-in-law, Mark, and was a big fan of the game, Defender!

As time went on, Doug’s health issues limited his ability to do the things he loved doing when he was younger. He fought a courageous battle against lymphoma. Through God’s grace and healing and the miracle of modern medicine, Doug won the lymphoma battle and was declared in remission, but the chemotherapy took its toll on his body. In the last 18 months, he discovered a new hobby with photography that he was able to do with his limited mobility. Photography was his passion the last 18 months of his life, and it is something that he was hopeful many would enjoy for years after he departed this life. He loved very much spending the last part of his life at the Springfield Botanical Gardens at Nathaniel Greene Park. He said it brought him so much peace, comfort, and joy sitting in the Gardens. He would go there to pray and he felt God’s presence there and was at peace amongst the flowers, trees, butterflies, and forest animals. He was an advocate for the poor and oppressed, for minorities, nature, and the environment. He loved hard and was passionate for the outcasts. He simply wanted peace and love for all!

The family would also like to thank Dr. Jessica Snider, Doug’s oncologist at Mercy. She was an uplifting light to him and gave him such hope and quality care during his cancer treatments and follow up appointments. He loved her. His family appreciates all that she did over the years for him with his health needs and providing him with the best care he could ask for.

Visitation will be Thursday, October 6^th, 2022 from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm at Greenlawn Funeral Home East.

Funeral Services to celebrate Doug’s life will be held at Greenlawn Funeral Home East, Springfield, MO, on Friday, October 7^th, 2022 at 1:00 pm with Pastor Hawk Coleman officiating and burial services to follow at Turner Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that monetary donations be made to one of the following charitable causes:

• Springfield-Greene County Botanical Gardens – https://www.parkboard.org/286/Support-the-Gardens
• Leukemia and Lymphoma Society – https://www.lls.org/ways-to-give

NAMI of Southwest Missouri – https://namiswmo.charityproud.org/Donate