Douglas Wagg Sr.

Douglas Wagg Sr., 82, of Byhalia, Miss., passed away November 17, 2023, at Mississippi Veterans Home in Oxford. After attending Downers Grove High School, he joined the USAF and was stationed at Chanute AFB, Rantoul, Ill. While there, he played for the USAF baseball team and started a family. He was a lumberjack in the Great North Woods of Minnesota and was proud to be a firefighter in Malone, NY, as well as in Collierville, Tenn. He retired from Carrier Corporation in Collierville, Tenn, where he worked as a coil lacer and a brazer.

Doug gave more than 30 years to the youth of Byhalia, Marshall County, and Tate County, Miss., preparing fields, coaching, and umpiring baseball and softball. He impacted countless lives on and off the ballfield, where he was considered tough but fair. He was a huge Chicago Bears fan, enjoyed camping, fishing, hunting, was an avid animal lover, and loved to hunt for a good treasure at Goodwill.

What brought him the most joy was spending time with his wife, children, and beloved grandchildren. He leaves behind Janice Wagg, his loving and devoted wife of 33 years; a brother, Art Wagg (Mary) of Poplar Grove, Ill. and Harold Krause of Missouri; sisters, Vera Flavell (Harold) of Des Moines, Iowa, Donna Samuelson (Frank) of Moline, Ill.; sons, Michael Wagg (Jennifer) of Collier ville, Tenn., and Manning Shackelford (Sammie) of Byhalia, Miss.; daughters, Angela McIntyre (Scott) of Columbus, Ind., Melissa Leigh and Jessica Wagg Walls of Bar tlett, Tenn., Emily Herring (Philip) of Olive Branch, Miss., and Ellen Gehrke (Matt) of Springfield, Ga.; 15 grandchildren and a host of great-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his first-born son, Douglas Wagg Jr.; his parents, Faville and Harriet Kolzow Wagg; his birth father, Emory McNamee; brothers, Bill Wagg, David McNamee, Donald McNamee, and Robert McNamee; sisters, Ruth Affelt, Rose Krause, June Nichols, and Betty Nelson.

Ser vices were held Sunday, November 26, at Victor y Church in Byhalia with his grandson, Rev. Caleb Shackelford officiating. Interment was in Byhalia Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Douglas Wagg Jr Foundation (www.DWaggfoundation.com).

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