Obituary of Charles ("Duck") Douthit

People who knew Charles "Duck" Douthit recall him as a person who always had the best interests of the Shoals in mind.

Douthit, 69, died Sunday after a brief battle with cancer.

His funeral will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Parkview Baptist Church, with burial in Colbert Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be 5-9 p.m. Tuesday at Morrison Funeral Home, Tuscumbia.

"He was a big supporter of the Shoals," said Forrest Wright, executive director of the Shoals Economic Development Authority. "He felt the Barton (Riverfront Industrial Park) was good for the Shoals." "He knew that if we wanted to be different from what we were, we had to do things differently," he said.

The Colbert County commissioner also supported the half-cent sales tax increase to build an economic development incentive fund. "Duck did not like raising taxes, but even more so, he did not like people not having a chance for good employment," Wright said. "He knew it took one to create the other."

Wright said Douthit was selected by the county commission to represent the body in negotiations with SCA Tissue when the company was considering a facility at the Barton Riverfront Industrial Park.

Douthit took office in 1993, the same year as former District 1 Commissioner Chuck Beard. "Duck and I saw a lot of things alike," Beard said. "We worked together very well." If Douthit said he planned to do something or vote a particular way, he would follow through and not change his mind at the last minute, Beard said. "He took the job very seriously," Beard said. "He was retired like me, so he had the time. I enjoyed working with him."

Commissioner Howard Keeton served with Douthit for the past six years. Like Beard, Keeton said Douthit was a man of his word. "What he told you, you could go to the bank with it," Keeton said. "That says a lot about a man's character." While they sometimes found themselves on the opposite side of an issue, Keeton said Douthit always kept it businesslike. "If he was against something and you were for it, he'd tell you up front and you could figure that's the way it's going to be," Keeton said.

Commission Chairman Rex Burleson worked with Douthit for the past five years. He said Douthit was able to balance solid decision-making with a sense of humor. "He wanted to see the Shoals area grow," Burleson said. Burleson said Douthit had a soft spot for his grandchildren. "One of his pride and joys was his grandkids," Burleson said. "If those kids wanted something, they usually got it. They were number one in his life."

Commissioner Troy Woodis said Douthit was always willing to help someone in need. "Anytime we were working on an economic development project or someone came in truly with a need, he'd always say, 'just do it,'" Woodis said.

Lance Blackstock, former business manager and financial secretary for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, said Douthit served as treasurer for Local No. 558 for the past 30 years. "Duck has always been well thought of as a person," Blackstock said. "He was a good lineman, he had a good reputation." "He was a very good, honest person," Blackstock said.

Douthit was employed by the Sheffield Utilities Department for more than 30 years.

Burleson said he did not know how Douthit got the nickname "Duck," but that's what he wanted people to call him. "He'd always say, 'My name's Duck,' " Burleson said.