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Lance R. Dougan, 70, passed from this earth on his journey to be with the Lord on October 22, 2010. He died in the comfort of his own home in San Antonio, TX, surrounded by his wife of 34 years, Elva, daughter Laura, as well as other family members. Lance was born December 14, 1939 in Jacksboro, TX, to Sam Smith Dougan of Tennessee and Iva Lista Reel Dougan of Corsicana, TX. Both predeceased him. He was an only child. As a young child he lived in Burkburnett and Mineral Wells. After his parent's divorce he also lived and attended schools in Rockdale and Henderson, TX. Lance moved to San Antonio to live with his father and step-mother Clara Bryant. He attended and graduated from Edison High School, Class of 1959. Following high school, his father advised him to go to electronics school because "that's where the future was and where jobs were going to be." He took his Dad's advice going to Central Technical School in Kansas City, Missouri, first through their correspondence school and then in Kansas City. After electronics school Lance worked for La Chappelle and Lloyds Electrical Companies before hiring with Western Electric Company, now known as AT&T. Working forty years with the company, he retired in 2002. During the Vietnam War, Lance served in the U.S. Air Force Reserves for 6 years in the Alamo Silver Wings Unit as a Staff Sergeant. He received an honorable discharge. After retiring, Lance took up walking, exploring hiking trails across San Antonio and Texas State Parks. While on these hikes Lance came across historical markers leading him to further read and research about people and places. This brought him to "check out" old Army forts, cemeteries, and gravestones of famous and infamous people who've made history in Texas. He walked a lot of miles doing something he thoroughly enjoyed. Many of his destinations were inspired by the history of the Texas Buffalo Soldiers who were stationed at frontier forts and military outposts from Texas to the Dakota Territories of the United States. "They helped build the West!!" Other journeys took him to visit Ft. McKavett, Ft. Scott, Ft. Brown, Ft. Washita, Ft. Mason and his most recent history adventure, Ft. Towson, Oklahoma. Lance liked high school, college, and professional sports attending the yearly rival football game between Edison and Jefferson, the Alamo Bowl College football games, the SPURS, Missions, and Rampage, but he was a die-hard fan of his favorite teams - the Kansas City Chiefs and the Kansas City Royals - an affinity from his stay in KC and of the Kansas City Monarchs Baseball team of what was then known as the Negro Baseball League. He studied the Monarchs and Negro League history eventually meeting such greats like Buck O'Neil, John "Mule" Miles and "Red" Moore. He attended the "Smokey" Joe Williams Scholarships Banquet in Seguin at least twice. Lance's favorite things to do were tubing on the Guadalupe, Blanco, and Comal Rivers. He enjoyed musical festivities such as Conjunto festivals at Market Square and the annual jazz festivals at Travis Park. He attended Bexar County Buffalo Soldiers activities and walking the Mission and San Antonio River Trails, visiting their museums. Lance put a lot of miles on his shoes, especially at the Southside Lions Club walking trail where friendships were formed. Walking kept him going in his fight against colon cancer along with his Faith in God, who allowed him to live longer than expected. Now he'll be walking the streets and trails of Heaven in company of his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Our thanks to Drs. Ed Hesita, Morton Kahlenberg, Robert Ching and their staffs, to Odyssey Health and Hospice Care, nurse Grace Hernandez, and special thanks to brother-in-law, Rev. Ed Tello, Chaplain with Odyssey, for his help during this difficult time. Lance truly appreciated everything Ed did for him. Thank you to our family members and friends for their help, thoughts, and prayers, to Pastor V.J. Espinoza and his wife Connie for ministering to Lance at home. Our loving daughter will miss her "Daddy", "Dad", and I will miss my hubby, "Hon", "Trooper Dougan." Lance is also survived by his uncle, aunts, and cousins, all members of the Reel Family, numerous brothers and sisters-in-law and their families. He will be missed by all those who knew and loved him. We'll always love you Dad. Go Chiefs!

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Lance R. Dougan

December 14, 1939 - October 22, 2010