Douglas Alan Press was born in Hays, Kansas, December 16, 1949. He was the favorite son of Lorne George and Oneita Ruth (Tuttle) Press. He died Friday, November 26, 2021, from a farm accident. He was blessed to grow up in the Quinter community with two parents, two sisters, his grandparents, and 22 first cousins. It was a time when childhood friendships lasted a lifetime.
Doug attended the Quinter schools where in high school he was active in football, basketball, chorus, band, and he played the guitar. Weekends could be spent working on cars with friends at his dad’s body shop or at Cedar Bluff skiing behind his dad’s homemade boat Tiny Mite. In the winter, he and his cousins ice skated down the Hackberry for miles. He worked at the Bob Leighton farm and there he learned about rodeoing. The love of such lasted a lifetime.
He was baptized on Easter Sunday April 22, 1962, in the Quinter Church of the Brethren. The church has held services for his grandparents and parents' funerals, his sister’s baptisms, his children’s baptisms, his two daughters' weddings, and now full circle his own memorial service.
Doug attended one year at FHSU, and two years at Colby Juco where he graduated in 1971 with an associate’s degree. At both colleges he was in their Rodeo Club and Choraleers. He rode bulls and barebacks, and had a beautiful tenor voice. Doug was in college at Colby when he learned a hard lesson, not all horses can swim.
It was in Colby, KS, in 1971, where a Quinter cowboy met a Phillipsburg drama major named Marcia Poague. They were married on August 12, 1972, in Phillipsburg, KS. Their marriage lasted 49 years, 3 months, and 14 days. They were blessed with Callie Lynn, Megan Rae, and Garret Alan Press. Soon after Callie was born, Doug was asked to come back to Quinter and work for his neighbor Merton Ikenberry. Doug helped build their home, which was just a quarter of a mile from where he grew up. He and Marcia moved in in April of 1979. They were kept busy with their children in school sports, scouting, church activities, family gatherings, and spending time at Cedar Bluff.
In 1981, he bought Press Construction from Francis Jamison, and he and his son, Garret, worked together off and on until 2012, thirty-one years. During this time, they worked many jobs with Von Tuttle of Aqua Pump and his son Tanner; they even had a water softener business together. Even though semi-retired, Doug and Garret continued to dig graves for Gove County making that total 40 years.
He loved hunting, and going elk hunting with friends was a thrill. As much as he loved hunting, he loved ‘retelling’ the stories as much. "He was a USD 293 bus driver twice totaling over 22 years. Doug and his friend Dave Unruh started the PU Cattle Company in 1986 and they and their kids worked together for years. He was the Gove County Clerk from 2013-2017, was on the Baker Township Board for over 20 years, and recently joined the Gove County Endowment Foundation.
Doug was registered with the Coronado Area Council Boy Scouts of America from 1990-2014. During that time he served in many positions, Cubmaster and Scoutmaster for Troop 164, and held several District jobs. During the time he was registered with Coronado, he had his hand, in one way or another, of helping 32 scouts in Troop 164 receive the highest award in Scouting, the Eagle Scout. Of course he started this venture and saw fruition in it in his own son, Garret.
Doug and Marcia are blessed to have 8 grandchildren and one great grandson. Watching them over the past 22 years play in sports, in 4-H shows (saw many grand champions), birthday parties, and graduations, all has kept them very busy.
Lately, his idea of fun was solitaire and Nex Tech Classifieds. His health took a toll on his body, every waking moment was filled with pain. This year was extraordinary in the fact that the family all got together more than usual. A great-grandson was born. If there’s any comfort in losing a loved one, the family knows his last moments were spent doing what he loved, working around the yard in big equipment.
“...absent from the body, and at home with the Lord.” (2 Corinthians 5:8)
Doug was preceded in death by his parents.
Survivors include his wife of the home, Marcia; Callie (Jeff) Brawner, Megan (Spencer) Herrman, and Garret Alan Press; grandchildren Bailey (Kendell) Born, Brooke and BrieAnn Brawner, Jaide, Scarlett, and Adaline Herrman; Brigham Alan and Nelly Press; great grandson Stetson Alan Born; sisters Marsha (Gary) Lang and Kendra (Roy) Delzeit; 20 nieces and nephews; Aunts Roma Tuttle, Jan Reeder, and Marilyn (Dave) Johnson; great and great great nieces and nephews; cousins, and friends.
‘Til we meet again and we will, thank you Jesus!
Funeral service will be on December 3, 2021, 10:00 a.m. at the Church of the Brethren, Quinter, Kansas. Visitation will be held at the church on Thursday, December 2, 2021 from 5-7 p.m.
Memorial Contributions may be given to the Quinter Ambulance Service or the Coronado Council of the Boy Scouts of America.