Merle Doughty

Wesley "Merle" Doughty Wesley "Merle" Doughty, age 88, a resident of Chillicothe, Missouri, passed away on Monday, March 13, 2017, at Cameron Regional Medical Center, Cameron, Missouri. He had been a resident of the Cameron Missouri Veterans Home since June 2014. Merle was born the son of William Wesley and Zelma (Lentz) Doughty on July 1, 1928, on a farm near Streator, Illinois. He graduated from Cornell High School in Illinois in 1946. He was united in marriage to Mildred Louise Peery on June 12, 1955, in Jamesport, Missouri. Merle farmed in the Northwest corner of Livingston County for 54 years until his retirement in 1994, but continued working on the family farm for another 10 years. He was an avid soil conservationist and a community-minded activist. He served as a Livingston County Soil supervisor for 20 years; President of the Livingston County Farm Bureau; a Chillicothe R-II Schools board member; Green Hills Regional Planning Commissioner; Advisory Council; University of Missouri Farm at Spickard; Livingston County Extension Council; a member of the United Methodist Church, Chillicothe; former member of the United Methodist Church, Jamesport, Missouri, where he served as a Sunday School teacher; a board member of the Jerry Litton Family Memorial Foundation; the Trenton Masonic Lodge #111, and the Chillicothe Shrine Club. He was a United States Army Veteran serving during the Korean War. During his time as a Livingston County Soil Supervisor, he also served as President of the Missouri Association for Soil and Water Conservation Districts from 1982-1984. During this time, he also served as Chairman of the "Citizens for Soil, Water, and State Parks Committee" and helped lead a grass roots movement that has given Missourians one of the finest soil conservation programs in the nation thanks to the ongoing state wide 1/10th cent sales tax for Missouri soils, parks, and historical sites. Some of his honors include National Association of Conservation Districts Special Service Award; Department of Natural Resources Steward of the Year Award; Missouri Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts Distinguished Service Award; Kansas City Chamber of Commerce State Agriculture Achievement Award; Northwest Missouri State University Outstanding Contribution Award; Chillicothe Chamber of Commerce Outstanding Agriculture Person of the Year; Livingston County Soil District Outstanding Cooperator Award; and the University of Missouri Extension Leaders-Honor Roll. Survivors include his wife, Mildred; son, Douglas Peery Doughty (Barbara); daughter, Patricia Lynn Howard (Paul); grandsons, Tyler Doughty (Kayla, Chase), Kellin Ferguson (Lalka Babaleeva); granddaughters, Konner Ferguson (Jacob Squires), Hanna Howard (C.J. Myrick); sisters, Elaine Anderson, Spokane, Washington; Kathryn Rissler, Ames, Iowa; Marjorie Schapaugh, Trenton, Missouri; Marilyn Dunn (Ray), Kearney, Missouri; and Beverly Whorton (Jim), Trenton, Missouri; plus numerous nephews, nieces, and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Eugene Doughty; and sisters, Barbara Doughty and Rose Anna Ramian. Funeral services will be held at the Lindley Funeral Home, Chillicothe, Missouri, on Thursday, March 16, 2017, at 1:00 p.m. A Masonic service will be held at the Lindley Funeral Home, Chillicothe, Missouri, on Wednesday, March 15, 2017, at 5:30 p.m. with a family visitation to follow from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Friends may call at the Lindley Funeral Home, Chillicothe, Missouri, on Wednesday, March 15, 2017, from 2:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Burial will be held at the Masonic Cemetery, Jamesport, Missouri. Memorial contributions may be made to the Livingston County Soil District (Soil Conservation Education) and may be left at or mailed to Lindley Funeral Home, P.O. Box 47, Chillicothe, Missouri 64601. Online condolences may be made at www.lindleyfuneralhomes.com . Arrangements are under the direction of Lindley Funeral Home, Chillicothe, Missouri.