Doug Summers

Douglas Franklin Summers passed away early Friday, August 26th at Paris Health Care following a recent battle with cancer.

He was born on October 14, 1943 at his family home in Crockett County, Tennessee to parents Leolan “Jack” Summers and Bertha Kinkade Summers. The youngest of six children, Summers was raised on a small family farm set amongst the cotton fields of Alamo, Tennessee. Throughout his youth, Summers was most known for his athletic exploits and talents, excelling at track, basketball and most notably as the Alamo Red Devils’ quarterback. He graduated from Alamo High School in the spring of 1961.

Shortly after graduation, Summers married his high school sweetheart, Mary Lynn Colvett, on September 1, 1961. He enlisted in the United States Air Force a month later and was stationed in San Angelo, Texas and the Philippine Islands where he served as a Non-Morse Intercept Operator until his honorable discharge in 1965.

Following his military service, Summers graduated from the University of Tennessee-Martin in 1969 with a Bachelor’s of Science in Agriculture.

Later that summer, he began working for the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) in Henderson, Tennessee before relocating to Paris in 1971.

He remained as an employee of the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service until retiring as a District Conservationist in early 2005. Throughout his career, Summers sought to serve and assist Henry County farmers and their families.

He began a 40-year career of volunteer coaching in 1975 that continued through 2015. During that time, Summers coached youth basketball, football, and, most notably, baseball. He loved the game and each of the young men he coached — but he never cared for umpires.

Summers was a member of the East Wood Church of Christ where he frequently served communion and could be found every Sunday in his regular seat on the back row of the balcony.

He fought lymphoma on three different occasions over the final sixteen years of his life with the same dignity, toughness, and intensity he brought to every challenge he undertook. His family and those who knew him best knew the depth of his moral character and his devotion to those that he loved.

He is survived by his wife Mary Lynn and their four sons, Scott (Terri), Stan, Steve (Windy) Summers, all of Paris, Dustin Summers of Jackson, Tennessee, two grandchildren, Shelby Lynn Summers and Carson Douglas Summers both of Paris, and one brother Robert (Joanne) Summers of Holladay, Tennessee. He is preceded in death by his parents (Leolan “Jack” Summers and Bertha Kinkade Summers), two sisters (Judy Summers Wisdom and Audry Summers) and two brothers (Marvin and Adron Summers).

Visitation will take place on Saturday, August 27 from 4pm through 8pm at Ridgeway Funeral Home in Paris, and a graveside service is scheduled for Sunday, August 28 at 3pm at Oakview Memorial Park in Alamo with Bobby Rawson, the minister of Alamo Church of Christ officiating.

Donations may be made in his honor to Henry County Relay for Life.