Douglas “Doug” G. Abbott, 80, Gas City, passed away at 9:45 p.m. on Thursday, December 14, 2017, at Wesleyan Health Care Center in Marion. He was born in Olive Hill, Kentucky, on September 27, 1937, to the late Cecil and Avanell (Cartee) Abbott. He married the love of his life, Dixie D. Turner, on May 24, 1961, and she survives.
Doug was a veteran of the U.S. Navy from 1955-1957, stationed on the aircraft carrier, USS Wasp. Following his military service, he was a machine operator for 43 years at Dana Corp. in Marion until his retirement in 2000.
It’s hard to adequately concise Doug’s life into a few paragraphs, especially when he was the kind of man who was selfless and the most helpful person you could imagine. He was the person in the family everyone went to when they needed help with a repair because he could fix just about anything. It wasn’t just his help to repair material things in life, though. It was also the counsel he gave to life’s problems and concerns. He was there for everyone. He loved his entire family and enjoyed spending time with them.
Doug was very meticulous about many things, especially when it came to his yard. It had to look a certain way and he took pride in that. He enjoyed bologna sandwiches, woodworking, detailing cars, collecting antique tools, and watching birds such as Cardinals, Orioles, and the Nuthatch. He also enjoyed going back to his home state of Kentucky whenever he could.
He is survived by his loving wife of almost 57 years, Dixie; daughter, Lisa (Jerry) Hall, Jalapa; son, James Abbott, Gas City; grandchildren, Brandon (Kendale) Brenner, Brian Abbott, Austin Case, and Andrea Abbott; brothers, Thomas Abbott and Curtis Abbott; sisters, Opal (Frank) White, Vada Bennett, and Diane (Garry) Johnson; and several nieces, nephews, and cousins.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Barbara Cline.
The family will receive visitors from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. with Doug’s funeral service beginning at 1 p.m. on Monday, December 18, 2017, at Needham-Storey-Wampner Funeral Service, Storey Chapel, 400 E. Main St., Gas City, IN. Pastor Mick Simpkins will be officiating with burial following at Grant Memorial Park.
Memorial contributions may be directed to Juvenile Diabetes Foundation, 10401 N. Meridian St., Ste. 150, Indianapolis, IN 46290.
Online condolences may be made at www.nswcares.com.