Douglas Joseph Carson

Douglas Joseph Carson, age 74, passed away on December 24, 2025, in Austin, Texas, from complications related to idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. He was born on May 4, 1951, in Springfield, Missouri, to Chester “Chet” Carson and Joanne Whinery Carson.

Writing an obituary for someone like Doug Carson is no easy task, because a life lived as fully as his deserves far more than a few paragraphs. Those who knew Doug often described him with a simple phrase that fit him perfectly: Living Large. Doug embraced life with energy, courage, passion, and heart, and he did so from the very beginning.

Doug was the middle child of five siblings, growing up in Springfield alongside his older brothers, Kit and James Carson, and his younger siblings, Tanya Carson Goldsmith and Jack Carson. From an early age, Doug possessed boundless energy and an independent spirit that kept his mother, Joanne, on her toes. If anyone was up to the challenge of guiding and focusing that energy, it was Joanne. A strong and remarkable woman in her own right, she raised her children while her husband served as a Colonel in the United States Army and established the family construction business, Carson-Mitchell, Inc. Doug and his mother shared a special and enduring bond that shaped much of who he became.

Joanne channeled Doug’s energy into competitive sports, and it quickly became clear that swimming was his calling. Doug excelled in the pool, particularly in breaststroke, and swam competitively throughout his youth. His talent and dedication earned him a scholarship to Texas A&M University, where he swam for three years. During that time, Doug even pursued qualifying for the Olympics, a testament to both his ability and determination. When his beloved coach left Texas A&M for another position, Doug made the difficult decision to leave the program and returned home to Missouri, where he completed his business degree at Southwest Missouri State University in Springfield.

Doug’s life was marked by adventure, curiosity, and a refusal to live small. He found his stride early in Texas and carried that spirit with him wherever he went. He spent years working in Alaska on the Trans-Alaska Pipeline and oil rigs in Cook Inlet, experiences that shaped him deeply and introduced him to lifelong friends. He also worked cattle barns in San Antonio, honing cowboy skills that stayed with him for life. Doug embraced fast cars, motorcycles, rodeo, softball, snow skiing, scuba diving, and even learning to fly. He lived with intensity and enthusiasm, always eager for the next challenge or experience.

While Doug loved playing sports, he was arguably even better at coaching. Those fortunate enough to be coached by him in swimming or handball knew him as perceptive, intuitive, and deeply invested in his athletes. Doug had a rare ability to understand what motivated people and to push them toward their next level with both honesty and encouragement. These coaching instincts followed him throughout his life and became especially evident in his professional career.

After returning to Springfield, Doug joined Carson-Mitchell, Inc., the family construction and engineering company founded by his father, Chet Carson. Working alongside his brothers Kit and Jim, Doug started and built the company’s crane division from the ground up. His attention to detail, insistence on high standards, and commitment to safety earned him a respected reputation throughout the construction industry. His work allowed him to travel coast to coast, training and evaluating crane operators and helping create safer construction environments nationwide.

In 1997, Doug began working with the National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators (NCCO). His impact there was monumental. Doug served on numerous committees and became an examiner, instructor, and practical assessment auditor. He was widely respected for his knowledge, integrity, and commitment to excellence, and his contributions left a lasting mark on the national crane industry.

Beyond work and adventure, Doug was fiercely loyal to his people. While living in Tulsa, Oklahoma, he formed lifelong friendships through softball, friendships so strong that he remained part of a brotherhood that met annually in Hot Springs, Arkansas, for 47 years. He was a friend who showed up, stayed connected, and made others feel valued.

Doug married Janette Davis in 1978, and together they had two children, Casey and Alan “Rowdy” Carson. Though Doug and Janette later parted ways, they continued to co-parent with maturity, respect, and a shared focus on their children, a decision that Casey and Rowdy remain deeply grateful for.

As a father, Doug’s legacy shines brightest. Though he once questioned whether fatherhood was for him, he became an exceptionally devoted, caring, and present dad. He taught his children the importance of having a moral code and living by it. He modeled strength of character, service to others, and the courage to do hard things. Doug believed that being a strong man did not mean hiding emotions. He showed Casey and Rowdy that vulnerability, tears, and honesty were not weaknesses, but marks of true strength.

He was also a joyful and fun father, famous for funny nicknames, wrestling matches, laughter, and spontaneous adventures. Because of Doug, his children saw the world, developed a deep appreciation for nature and the country, and gained a broad perspective on life.

Doug was a proud grandfather to four grandchildren: Piper and Bodi Carson, children of his son Rowdy and his wife, Tina, and Mateo and Felix Olvera, children of his daughter Casey and her husband, Isaac. He adored them deeply and took great joy in watching them grow.

Doug lived much of his life wrestling with questions of faith, but after receiving his terminal diagnosis, he found God in a profound and life-changing way. Through the love and guidance of his children and his lifelong friends, Doug was saved in 2023. His faith brought him peace, clarity, and comfort in the final years of his life, and it transformed how he faced the end of his journey.

Doug was known for speaking plainly and living intentionally. One never had to wonder where he stood. He lived by a clear code and shared it freely through his many memorable “Doug-isms” that friends and family will continue to quote for years to come.

To say Doug will be missed feels far too small. The world is dimmer without his presence, but his legacy of strength, loyalty, service, adventure, and love will continue to inspire all who knew him.

In true Doug fashion, there will be no formal funeral. A celebration of life will be held to honor him as he would have wanted, with stories shared, laughter raised, and glasses lifted in his name.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Doug’s honor to Tunnel to Towers, a charity close to his heart that supports catastrophically injured veterans and first responders by providing mortgage-free homes.

Doug lived large, loved fiercely, and left the world better than he found it.