Douglas J. Horner, 70, of Butler, formerly of Tucson, Ariz., passed away Friday, Aug. 29, 2025, while under the care of Magnolia Place of Saxonburg.
Born May 3, 1955, in New Brighton, he was the son of the late Robert M. Horner and Shirley J. (Oakes) Horner.
Doug received his master's degree from Loyola University, and spent the majority of his career as the director of expressive therapy for Desert Hills Center for Youth and Families. He attended All Saints Parish, St. Conrad Roman Catholic Church. Doug enjoyed water skiing, sailing on the Pacific and taking road trips. He visited all 50 states, and also traveled to numerous countries around the world.
He is survived by his mother, Shirley J. Horner; his brother, Bruce Horner; two sisters, Kay (Bob) Stephens and Trudy (Dru) Sedwick; one niece and two nephews.
HORNER - A celebration of life for Douglas J. Horner, who died Friday, Aug. 29, 2025, will be held at a later date at the convenience of the family.
Arrangements have been entrusted to THOMPSON-MILLER FUNERAL HOME, 124 E. North St., Butler.
All who knew Doug are encouraged to share memories and upload photos to his unique remembrance page at www.thompson-miller.com.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Butler Eagle on Sep. 2, 2025.

Memories and Condolences
for Douglas Horner

12 Entries

Harry CUNNINGHAM

September 7, 2025

Doug was an across-the-(Oak)-street neighbor for a number of years. He was always a compassionate, empathetic, interested-in, & interesting friend. We have missed/shall miss Doug; I helped him pass his needed-music course! Bless his memory, bless his dear mother (who we also had met,) & thank you, Doug, for being a close & friendly neighbor-- to both of us & to our children!

-Harry & Carol Cunningham (formerly of Oak St., Butler).

Sallie Benjamin

September 5, 2025

Shirley and family,
I was surprised to see Doug´s obituary in the paper. It is not easy losing a son/brother, I hope you have good memories that you can share with each other. May the love of friends and family carry you through your grief.
In sympathy,
Sallie Christie Benjamin

Paul Carosi

September 5, 2025

As Rick Devore wrote, Doug Horner was a traveler. Doug took me with him on two of his journeys. I traveled twice with Doug by car across the United States. In the summer of 73 Doug Ritzert, Keith Helper and I rode with Doug in his blue Dodge Dart down route 66 listening to NRBQ on our way to Oakland, California where he was attending art school. It was my first trip out of small town Western, Pa. Through Doug I saw the vastness of midwestern corn fields, the Colorado Rockies, the flat treeless desert of Utah, the beauty of Lake Tahoe, the cool Bay Area and the Pacific. We stopped in small town bars and restaurants along the walk to talk to the locals. Doug, his school mate Peter Haden and a California friend Sid and I all shared a house together in Piedmont, Ca next to Berkeley. Peter taught us all how to cook Chinese and Mexican food. We took trips together to the Napa Valley, Sausalito, the Berkley Hills and the Redwoods in Northern Ca and attended lots of parties. I spent six months in Piedmont before returning to Pittsburgh where I eventually attended Pitt rooming with Doug´s brother Bruce.
I made a second cross-country road trip with Doug in the summer of 78 to Topanga Canyon in LA, where Doug was living while he attended graduate school for Art Therapy. On that trip we traveled through Arizona and Nevada. I spent three weeks visiting with Doug, Peter Haden and Doug´s friend Ross before heading back to Pa to finish grad school. Doug was a major influence in my life as he showed me the country and introduced me to new foods and friends. I along with many others benefited greatly from his adventurousness, generosity, dry humor and warm friendship.

Debbie Look Fecich

September 5, 2025

Shirley and family my deepest sympathies. Debbie Look Fecich

Aryl Bashline

September 4, 2025

Doug was a great guy, and I was sorry to hear of his passing. My condolences to his family and friends.

Rick Devore

September 3, 2025

Doug was a prolific traveler. When I met him, he would take me up to his family´s vacation home in Chautauqua, NY and to nearby Jamestown, NY, where he seemed to know everybody. Then off to Buffalo, NY, where he knew dozens of people. He was 17 then. Next, he moved to Oakland, CA. Then Los Angeles. Then Phoenix, and he settled in Tucson for years. When he´d return to Butler, he´d talk about trips to Mexico and visiting England and Israel with his father. Doug lived nearly three quarters of a century and spent his time doing what he loved to do.