William Douglas Harper

William Douglas Harper, better known as “Doug” was born in Sanger, Texas on September 21, 1938 and passed away on January 31, 2018 in Plano, Texas after a battle with Cancer at the age of 79 with his family at his side.  He met Kelli Mischele (Raney) Harper and married her on a Leap Year of February 29, 1980 and has been happily married for 38 years.  He is survived by his wife Kelli M. Harper, a daughter Lori Lynn Little and her husband Mike, with their children Andrew Harper, Brandee and Dustin Murphy and their son Grayson Marcus Murphy;  his son, Michael “Chance” Harper and his wife Kelly A. Harper, with their children Jamie Douglas Harper and Joey Douglas Harper; four grandchildren Mackenzie Harper, Bentley Douglas Harper, Emerson Douglas Harper, Jackson Douglas Harper; his youngest brother Don Harper and his wife Jeanette.  He was preceded in death by his son, Richard Douglas Harper, his parents William Henry Harper and Vera Fay (Lanier) Harper, and his oldest brother Bennie Harper and wife Robbie Dale Harper. 

Doug grew up in and around Carrollton, Texas and graduated from Carrollton High School in 1956.  He later went to work for Texas Instruments Inc. where he retired after 39 plus years of service in August 1998.  He loved being outside and being active outdoors.  He had a passion for golf, so much so that he went and volunteered as a greens marshal at several of the local golf courses around Allen and Plano.  We all know that golf is a game of skill and luck, and in his life, he was lucky enough to have four holes-in-one during his playing career.  In his younger days, he loved taking his sons fishing in and around Lake Lavon.  He loved crappie fishing most.  He spent an enormous amount of time relishing and spoiling his grandchildren with simple things like trips to the movies or dinner.  Never afraid to hurt someone’s feelings when he spoke his mind, he was always the first one to help a friend in need without being asked.  He was active in the church, where he attended Waterview Church of Christ in Richardson, Texas, and was always at service with a smile and warm words for all he met.

The family will receive friends from 6pm to 8pm on Friday, February 2, 2018 at Coker Funeral Home, 403 Pecan Street, Sanger, Texas.  A funeral service will be held at 10am on Saturday, February 3, 2018 at the Waterview Church of Christ, 1409 N. Waterview Dr., Richardson, Texas with Robert Taylor presiding over the service.  Interment will follow the services at 12:30 pm in the Sanger Cemetery in Sanger, Texas.