Douglas McLellan Horne

AMHERST, MA: Douglas McLellan Horne of Amherst, Massachusetts passed away peacefully at home with his family by his side on January 31, 2025. Doug is survived by his daughters Spring Elizabeth Horne of Sunderland and Alexis Reynolds Horne and her husband Donald Champman also of Sunderland. He had three grandchildren, Nicholas Michael Moscaritolo of Greenfield, Rose Elizabeth Moscaritolo of Tampa, Florida and McLellan Frank White of West Springfield. He was also beloved Uncle Bug to niece Laura Kallio Neill of Amherst and Jon Winston Kallio of Leverett. He will be greatly missed by his friend and companion of many years, Mary Lou Gardner of Atlanta Ga. Doug was born on February 7, 1936 to Mary Springle Horne and Jacob McLellan Horne in Bronxville, NY. He graduated from Bronxville High School and Cornell University. At Bronxville High School he was a proud member of the Nude Bicycle Riders of America. While attending Cornell a fraternity brother took Doug flying, from then on he was an Aviator at heart. He joined the Navy and flew A1 Skyraiders his proudest achievement was his 32 night landings on an aircraft carrier. He said that being launched into the darkness from a catapult was the most thrilling experience of his life. In February of 1963 while exiting his plane, he was hit with his still moving propeller, cracking his helmet and injury his shoulder and back, earning him the distinction of being the Luckiest man in the Navy. While in the naval reserves he flew S2 Trackers. After retiring from the Navy he went on to fly for 28 years with United Airlines retiring as a Captain and trainer for United where he passed on his vast knowledge and experience to a new generation of pilots. He was a pilots, pilot. He will be remembered by his friends and family as a brilliant, hilarious, caring person and inventor of the world famous accu-park system. He was a devoted father to Spring and Alexis, quick with a hug and words of encouragement. He was always good for a dad joke or funny story or singing songs like Rudolph the red tailed Hippo to his grandchildren. Douglas will be interred at the McLellan family plot in Portland Maine later this year at a private service. In lieu of flowers a donation can be made in his honor to the Peace Development Fund or The Fisher Home of Amherst. Memorial guestbook can be found at douglassfuneral.com