Donald Douglass Miser
Donald Douglass Miser 85, Newton Donald
Douglass Miser, 85, of Newton, died on Saturday (July 21, 2012) at
Select Specialty Hospital in Springfield, Mo. Don was born on July
31, 1926, in Arkansas City to G. Otis and Lela (Thompson) Miser. They
preceded him in death. He attended Arkansas City High School and
Cowley College in Arkansas City. After high school graduation in
1944, Don began work as a freight carman apprentice for the Santa Fe
Railroad. In 1945, he was drafted into the Army, trained as a medical
corpsman, and then assigned to the Army Air Corp. He worked with the
Red Cross as a projectionist showing training films at Scott Field
Regional Hospital at Belleville, Ill., until his discharge in 1946.
After his discharge as a sergeant, he
returned to his work at Santa Fe, holding various positions. In 1969,
he was transferred to Newton, where he worked as night train yard
foreman and as car repair foreman until his retirement in 1986.
He married Carrol June Coffelt on June
1, 1948, in Arkansas City. Shortly after celebrating 61 years of
marriage, she preceded him in death in 2009.
Don was a member of First Baptist
Church in Newton, serving as adult choir member and trustee. While a
member of the First Baptist Church in Arkansas City, he was a youth
leader, adult choir member and a member of various boards.
As a lifetime volunteer with the Boy
Scouts of America, Don was an assistant scoutmaster, scout-master,
explorer advisor and district training chairman. Don was serving as
the district advancement chairman for Pawnee District. He received
various scouting awards, including Wood Badge Beads, Scouter's
Training Award, Silver Beaver Award and the District Award of Merit.
He was a vigil member of the Order of the Arrow. In March 2012, he
received a 70 year veteran scouting award.
He served as a board member of the
Newton Salvation Army and of the White Eagle Credit Union, working
with both groups for many years.
He will be remembered as a loving
husband, father, grandfather and friend. He was noted for his
dedication, hard-work and generosity to his church and to various
mission and community projects.
Survivors include daughters, Sylvia
Riggs and husband, Rex of Arkansas City, Donna Reynolds and husband,
Rick of Winfield, and Janice Morris and husband, Gary of Junction
City; sister, Joy N. Krug of Chetopa, Okla.; seven grandchildren; and
10 great-grandchildren.
He also was preceded in death by an
infant great-granddaughter, Reegan Riggs.
Visitation will be from 1 to 8 p.m.
Thursday at Petersen Funeral Home in Newton. The family will greet
friends and family from 6:30 to 8 p.m.
A celebration of life service will be
at 1 p.m. Friday at First Baptist Church of Newton.
Memorials may be made to First Baptist
Church and Boy Scouts, in care of the funeral home.
