Virgil Owen Douglas

Virgil “Butch”  Douglas of Utica, Mississippi, passed away in the late evening on  June 19, 2022. He was 70 years old. Visitation will be held at Chancellor Funeral Home in Byram, MS on Wednesday, June 22, 2022 from 5:00 p.m.—7:00 p.m. The funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, June 23, 2022 with interment to follow at Whitesand Baptist Church Cemetery in Prentiss, MS.

Butch was born in Jefferson Davis County on September 22, 1951 to the late Golda and Garland Douglas. He spent his early childhood years in Prentiss before moving to Jackson. After graduating from Forest Hill High School in 1970, he went on to Hinds Jr College where he received certification to become a commercial/industrial AC technician.  

He married Diana McKee on February 24, 1973 and had two children, Holly and Buck. He worked for Terry Trane for 37 years. During his time with the company, he worked at Grand Gulf Nuclear Station. 

An avid outdoorsman, one could always find Butch hunting or fishing. He participated in several fishing tournaments, and in 1977, he won the MS State Bass Championship. He was a wonderful, loving dad, who spent many days coaching little league baseball, and helping with softball practices. As a retired grandfather, he loved watching the grandchildren’s ball games and teaching them to hunt and fish. He was also a member of Carpenter Methodist Church.

Butch was preceded in death by his parents, Garland and Golda Douglas, stepfather Millard Smith, sister Nancy Luckey and brother-in-law, Roland Luckey. 

He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Diana Douglas of Carpenter, MS; daughter, Holly Gomez (John) of Jackson; son, Buck Douglas (Kate) of Hernando, MS; brother, Tommy Douglas of Jackson; grandchildren, Hayes Gomez, Jacob Gomez, Morgan Gomez, Elise Douglas, Emmy Lou Douglas. 

Serving the family as pallbearers will be Benjamin Douglas, Trey Ramsey, Grant Jones, Brad Jones, Donald McKee and Marshall McKee.