James Ray "Jim" Douglas Sr.

Heaven keeps getting better. Jim Douglas, Sr., went to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ while surrounded by family who loved him early Monday afternoon, March 4th, in the ICU at OLOL Medical Center in Baton Rouge. Although many thought and hoped he would make it to 100, God brought him home to heaven during his 92nd year on earth.

Jim grew up in Brookhaven, MS, the son of D. Herbert Douglas and Delia Sutton Douglas and the younger brother of Charles H. Douglas, all deceased. After graduating from Brookhaven High School, he went on to earn degrees in Accounting at Western Kentucky University (formerly Bowling Green College) and LSU where he was a member of DKE Fraternity and a star student. It was after those years that he was introduced to the love of his life, Mary Arrington, of Meridian, MS, who became his wife in April of 1964. He and Mary married at Mary’s home church, First Presbyterian Church of Meridian, MS and later joined First Presbyterian Church of Baton Rouge where they raised their children and where Jim served in various leadership roles and on various boards. He belonged to First Presbyterian Church for almost 60 years.

Jim became a Certified Public Accountant, and began his own firm in Baton Rouge, where he worked for many years until his retirement.

He enjoyed sailing in his earlier years. He loved golfing in his later years, even achieving a “hole in one” six times-four at the Baton Rouge County Club and two elsewhere! He liked fixing things-or at least trying, always asking the question of why we should pay someone to do what we can do ourselves. He enjoyed many trips with his family, his favorites being Disney World and the beach in Destin, Florida, where many happy memories were made with Mary and their three children, and eventually their grandchildren, who loved their “Gran” and “Grandaddy” tremendously, and who were truly adored by them.

Jim also loved music, especially playing the harmonica and guitar with his beloved niece Daron Douglas, a professional musician. He ensured that his children and grandchildren learned the lyrics to songs by musicians such as Peter, Paul & Mary, Elvis, or musically gifted family members, such as “Stewball,” “Hound Dog”, and a song about “Louise and Louisa,” two brave sisters in the family line who died at a young age.

Besides hunting in earlier years and becoming an avid golfer in later years, Jim also loved LSU sports-all of it, especially football. In addition, he loved making family films, progressing from old film-making machinery to camcorders and advanced digital technology, of everyone on every occasion. He was always behind the camera and never in front of it! He would then insist on everyone watching these family movies-numerous times! In his heart, he was a true Family Man.

If Jim didn’t become an accountant, he might have been an engineer, as he was beyond the norm when it came to accumulating and enjoying all kinds of gidgets and gadgets for every imagined need, from bread-makers, to ice cream makers, to pasta makers, to espresso machines and technologically advanced exercise apparatuses. Jim was also an avid reader, usually reading a book each week, encompassing many different subject areas, especially the Civil War, and later on in life, books on theology and living the Christian faith. In fact, it was through reading many books by Dr. David Jeremiah and having many discussions with his “favorite son-in-law,” his only son-in-law, an Ordained Protestant Minister, that Jim said he grew in his understanding of what it really meant to be a Christian, accepting the love, forgiveness and guidance of the Author of Life who conquered death, with John 3:16-17 and Colossians 1:17 in mind.

Although Jim was somewhat of a “health-freak,” into fitness, diet and even the book entitled “How Not to Die,” he ultimately surrendered everything to The One who knows the number of our days (Psalm 139:16).

We will miss his dry sense of humor and wittiness, as he shared many one-line jokes like “Did you hear about the man who fell out of the tree raking leaves?

Most difficult for Jim was losing his precious wife Mary Douglas so unexpectedly in July of 2014, and then losing his one and only son in October of 2021. We rejoice knowing that he is now reunited with them.

Jim is survived by his niece Daron Douglas (Mark Morris) of New Orleans, his niece Carolyn (Dennis) Koehler of Chapel Hill, NC, his daughters Molly Douglas of New Orleans and Anne (Jim) Solomon of Baton Rouge, his daughter-in-law Jennifer Douglas of Peyton, CO and the apples of his eyes, his four grandchildren: Amanda Solomon of Charleston, SC; Ashley Solomon of Waco, Texas, Jamison Douglas and Braeden Douglas of Peyton, CO as well as friends who are comforted in knowing that he is now in a better place. As Jim requested, a private Memorial Service (family only) will be held in his honor at a date to be determined. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in honor of Jim Douglas, Sr., to The Christian Outreach Center of Baton Rouge online at christianoutreachcenterbr.com or mail a check to 1427 Main Street, Baton Rouge, LA 70802.