Douglas Michael Botner

Douglas Michael Botner of Norman, Oklahoma passed away on Friday, May 22, 2026 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma at the age of 72. He was born on February 4, 1954 in Columbia, Missouri to Dr. Stanley and Dixie Botner. In his younger years he was known as “Micky” by almost everyone. Later, he used the name “Doug” although his family still lovingly referred to him as “Micky” or “Mick”. His early years were shaped by visits to the family farm in north Boone County.

Doug graduated from Hickman High School in 1972. He then attended the University of Missouri – Columbia where he earned a bachelors and a masters degree in Atmospheric Science. His first job took him to Fairbanks, Alaska where he worked as a meteorologist for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). He then worked for NOAA in Silver Springs, Maryland for a few years before finally moving to Norman, Oklahoma where he continued to work until his retirement.

Doug had numerous and varied interests. He and his family shared a life-long interest in St. Louis Cardinals baseball. He was a lifetime member of Mensa, and he was published in both the national magazine “The Mensa Bulletin” and the Oklahoma regional newsletter “Mensokie”. He knew almost all the answers when watching TV Jeopardy, especially excelling in geography, state and world capitals, U.S. presidents, and world leaders.

He could shoot a winning game of pool (eight-ball). He was an award-winning poet in the 2025 writing contest sponsored by the Norman Galaxy of Writers, taking first place in Unrhymed Poetry with his entry “Divided Highways”, and second place with his entry “Cat Yarn”.

Doug was as funny as he was intelligent, easily able to make people laugh so hard that they’d cry. He had a lifelong interest in aviation and astronomy. He was generous, kind-hearted, and he will be missed tremendously by those who were blessed to know him.

Doug is survived by his sisters, Linda (Ray) Noll and Carol (David) Larsen , both of Columbia; nephew John (Helen) Weston, Jr. and their children Thomas Chen Weston and Julie Chen Weston, all of Suzhou, China; niece Kathryn Gayle Weston of Columbia; and his dear friend Lisbeth McCarty of Norman, OK. He was preceded in death by a sister, Janet Crow, and by his parents.

A graveside service will be held in Memorial Park Cemetery in Columbia, Missouri on Wednesday, June 3 at 10:30 AM.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the Central Missouri Humane Society 616 Big Bear Blvd, Columbia, MO 65202 or to the Dr. Stanley Botner Memorial Endowment Fund, 407 Reynolds Alumni Center Columbia, MO 65211.

Condolences and fond memories can be shared at www.memorialfuneralhomeandcemetery.com