Douglas H. 'Doug' Innes, 93, Hays, died Monday, June 23, 2025 at Cedarhurst of Lawrence.
He was born March 6, 1932 in Phillipsburg, the son of Guy Allendale and Carolyn Violet (Unland) Innes. Doug was the oldest of five children: Von, Ronald, Karen Sue, and Rodney, and he attended school in Phillipsburg and graduated from Phillipsburg High School in 1950. Doug attended McNeese State College for one year and then transferred to the University of Nebraska where he received a BSc degree in Geology in 1955. While at Nebraska, he was enrolled in the ROTC program and received a commission as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army. He was called to active duty a short time later and after inducted, he was assigned to duty in Schwetzington, Germany.
On February 6, 1955 he was united in marriage to Elizabeth “Betty” Thurman in Broken Bow, Nebraska, and they were blessed with three children: Susan, Jill, and Thomas. After his assignment in the Army was completed, he worked as a geologist in New Mexico and Colorado. He returned to Phillipsburg in 1961 to work in the family business as well as part time with the U.S. Post Office. In 1964, he was appointed to Postmaster at the Phillipsburg post office. In 1978, Doug received a promotion and he and his family moved to Hays. Doug enjoyed his work with the post office and in 1981 he was appointed Hays Postmaster, a position he held until retirement in 1990.
Survivors include his wife Betty of Hays, his three children, Susan Shanklin and husband Greg of Lawrence, Jill Innes of Madison WI, and Thomas Innes and wife Lisa of Madison, WI, a foster daughter Tarea Sanders Fischer of Hays, two brothers, Von Innes and wife Lois of Lincoln, NE, and Rodney Innes and wife Mary of Olathe, eight grandchildren, two great granddaughters, and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Ronald Innes, and his sister Karen Sue Dulaney.
Inurnment with military honors by the Hays VFW Post #9076 Honor Guard will be at 9:30 am on Monday, July 28, 2025 in the Kansas Veterans’ Cemetery in WaKeeney followed by a memorial service at 11:00 am at Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home. The family will receive friends from 4:00 pm until 5:00 on Sunday, July 27, 2025 at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to the Humane Society of the High Plains. Condolences and memories of Doug may be shared with his family at www.haysmemorial.com