Obituary: Joseph ‘Vernie’ Douglas, 87, formerly of Bardstown

Joseph “Vernie” Douglas, 87, of Bargersville, Ind., formerly of Bardstown, died at his home with his wife and daughters by his side. He was born Oct. 2, 1933, in Bardstown. Being the oldest son, he worked hard to help his parents raise their children and was a hardworking man his entire life. He loved his wife and daughters and spent most of his free time helping his wife, Doris, care for them. He played the guitar, and he and Doris would sing songs on weekends to entertain the “girls.” He loved camping, boating, and water skiing. He spent most weekends at Green River enjoying life. He also liked to compete with his boating buddy. One time they had a competition as to who was going to have the most running lights on their RVs. Of course, he won! He also competed with him as to who had the fastest boat. Again, Vernie won! He retired from Midwest Concrete in 1994 and from 1994-2006, he and Doris traveled to Yuma, Aruz., to visit his daughter for the winter and to visit his daughters and family in Indiana and Bardstown in the summer. He enjoyed telling jokes; he could tell you one and as soon as he finished telling that one, he would start telling the next. For most of his life he had a ton of fun playing pranks on his family and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, David Clint and Catherine I. Williams Douglas; one sister, Mary “Helena” Culver; and one brother, Melvin Douglas; one granddaughter, Ashley WyKoff; and one grandson, Chad Clark..

He is survived by his wife, Doris Vowels Douglas of Bardstown; four daughters, Anna Catherine Kirk (Paul) of Indianapolis, Barbara Douglas of Yuma, Ariz., Virginia Rose WyKoff of Dillsburg, Penn., and Bonnie Marie Clark of Greenwood, Ind.; four sisters, Joyce Downs, Louise Downs, and Charlene Leslie, all of Bardstown, and Marlene Marshall of Chaplin; two brothers, Elzie Douglas of Bardstown and Larry Douglas of Bonnieville; seven grandchildren; two stepgrandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

The funeral is 11 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2020, at the Houghlin-Greenwell Funeral Home with Deacon Steve Heil officiating. Burial is in the St. Joseph Cemetery.

Visitation is 5-7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 12 at the funeral home.

The Houghlin-Greenwell Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

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