Douglas Lankford

Douglas Mileham Lankford, 81, of Moberly, passed away, Sunday, December 15, 2024.  He was born August 30, 1943, to the union of William Hiram and Edna Lucille (Mileham) Lankford, in Moberly.

Doug was delivered at Woodland Hospital, and he was a premature baby.  Very probably the only member of his family who has been early to anything!  He spent two weeks in an incubator and also was afflicted with an impairment on his left side.

However, he arrived home to his waiting mother, sister and grandfather.  Brother Bill and Doug’s dad brought Doug to his home on West Logan.  Needless to say, he was a delightful baby in spite of his impairments.  His parents took him to many doctors to see if there was any kind of aid for him, but, alas, there was not.  During his early childhood he was cared for and loved by his family and many others who helped him as they could.  He learned to walk on his own and later learned to talk.  Once he learned to talk, he rarely stopped. 

Doug went to South Park School, as did his older brother, his sister, and his father.  Many of the teachers there gave special help to him.  Mrs. Prall, his 2nd grade teacher was especially touched by his intent to do well.  He, like his brother Bill, was a school crossing guard.  Doug went through Junior High, where he sang in the choir.  He took shop where he made many things quite well; he took driver’s training and was a good driver; and he continued to sing in the choir.  He and his dad went to St. Louis one summer to take a training class in tool making. 

Doug had many friends in the neighborhood.  The family had moved by then to a house on Epperson that backed up to “Possum Holler.”  As many of you know, that street has an excellent hill for sledding.  Doug shot baskets with Gary Epping and often played with Dee Embree.  Doug was a faithful member of the First Baptist Church, where he sang in the choir and worked with the children who went to Vacation Bible School.

After his parents passed away and the house was sold, Doug lived on his own.  He worked for a while at the Municipal Auditorium, and his last job was with the Water Dept., where he learned a great deal about Moberly’s water system.  Finally, living on his own was no longer feasible and he ended up living at Aspire Senior Living.  He was very happy there and the staff treated him very well.  Doug had excellent hearing and an incredible memory.  He knew almost everyone in Moberly, and they knew him.  He enjoyed seeing his classmates at their class reunions.  His final years were spent at Aspire.  Unfortunately, he became ill with sepsis three times but recovered each time.  But it is a vile disease, and it finally wore him out.  His last bout was more than he could recover from.

Douglas is survived by a sister, Sue Kappler and her husband Bob, of South Carolina, a nephew, nieces,other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, William Charles Lankford.

In lieu of flowers memorials to The First Baptist Church or Moberly Animal Shelter would be appreciated.

Words of comfort and support may be shared with the family at a visitation to be held Thursday, December 19, 2024, 1-2:30 pm at the Cater Funeral Home Chapel, to be followed by Funeral services honoring and celebrating Douglas’s life at 2:30 pm.  Committal prayer and burial will take place in the Oakland Cemetery.