Douglas Lee Graham

Douglas Lee Graham, 83, a resident of Lapine, Alabama, passed away peacefully in his home on Saturday, August 5th, 2023 while surrounded by his family. A celebration of his life will be held at 3 PM on Monday, August 7th, at Mountain Hill Baptist Church with Rev. Todd Russell officiating and Larry Sims offering the eulogy. The family will receive friends at the Graham Home after 1 PM on Sunday.

Doug was preternaturally blessed with the kind of athletic ability that allowed him to excel in multiple sports. He won a scholarship to play basketball for Ohio State University out of high school and he was even recruited to play baseball for the Pirates. However, the call to serve his country outweighed those opportunities so he enlisted in the United States Air Force for four years, which led him to life in Montgomery, Alabama while serving at Gunter Air Force Base. It was there that he met and married the love of his life, Lanie Kelly, and they proceeded to build a remarkable life together full of love and laughter that would influence the generations to follow. It was through their children that he was able to continue to indulge in his love of sports as he helped coach their own teams, a job he didn't give up until his daughter was in her 30s and still playing softball! In his free time, he thoroughly enjoyed keeping up with all kinds of sports, but he especially loved cheering on the Alabama Crimson Tide Football Team and he was happy to watch any girls' sports on TV as he relived some of the best times of his life.

No better word could describe Doug than charming. He simply had a natural gift with people that is truly rare in this world. He was so personable and outgoing that people were simply drawn into his orbit and, once there, never wanted to leave. These included not only the friends of his grandchildren, who could never think of him as anything but "Granddaddy" as well, but also even the doctors and nurses who treated him over the years (and often pulled strings to remain on his case because they couldn't bear to let anyone else do it)! Why? Because it is rare in this cold world to find someone who is genuinely generous, kind, and thoughtful without ever wanting anything in return. He set a shining example to everyone who met him as to how you should always treat your fellow man (or woman) and it paid in dividends simply because he received so much love in return.

Doug's family claims his greatest loves were God, his wife, his grandchildren, great-grandchildren, children, and sports...in that order! I doubt there's ever existed a more loving, doting, and indulging Granddaddy on this Earth. When the grandchildren first came to stay, it didn't matter what he had planned for the day if they wanted to do something different. Their wants and needs came first because making memories that would last a lifetime was more important than whatever simple task he had waiting for him at home. When it came to those grands and great-grands, Doug was nothing but a big softie...especially when it came to his girls who definitely had him wrapped around their fingers! Spend a little time with them and it's easy to see how much of Granddaddy lives on in his descendants. They all share his brilliant sense of humor, his zest for life, and passionate persona. There is no greater legacy than that. The world has lost one of its brightest lights, but unlike far too many, he is definitely leaving it a far better place than he found it.

Doug was preceded in death by his parents, Jerry R. & Beulah Sponagle Graham, and six sibling. He is survived by his loving wife of 63 years, Jaylane "Lanie" Kelly Graham; children, Tim (Karen) Graham and Melissa (Mike) Ranczka; grandchildren, Cody (Emily) Graham, Cory (Rachel) Ranczka, Kari (Grant) Layton, and Kasi (Bryan) Scarborough; great-grandchildren, Nora Scarborough, Rylee Layton, Walker Ranczka, and Cole Scarborough; brother, Allen (Kay) Graham; and a host of nieces, nephews, extended family members, and friends.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to either the Mountain Hill Baptist Building Fund or the Bethlehem Cemetery Fund.