STARKVILLE — Douglas Jennings Tackett age 74 of Starkville, passed away at home surrounded by his family on Thursday, Aug. 15.
A celebration of life will be held Tuesday, Aug. 20, at First Baptist Church in Starkville with Dr. Andy Brown officiating. There will be a visitation from 10-11 a.m. and a service following at 11 a.m.
He was born on June 23,1950 in Cleveland. Doug grew up in Clarksdale and moved to Tallahatchie County when he was in high school where he met the love of his life, Eva Jane Shaw.
Doug graduated from Delta State University with a degree in business administration.
While at Delta State, he enlisted in the Mississippi Army National Guard. The military was a big part of his life. Serving his country was important and he decided to make a career in the National Guard. He was a member of the 223rd Engineer Battalion and was deployed to Iraq for fourteen months. While there, he received a Bronze Star medal for his service in Iraq. Doug remained in the National Guard for thirty-seven years and retired as Master Sergeant. He then worked at Mississippi State with the ROTC program.
Doug was a member of First Baptist Church in Starkville.
He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Jane Shaw Tackett; daughters Shawn Marchant (Brett) of Cleveland, Jenny Voyles (Mark) of Hernando, and Mary Coats (Jason) of Starkville; and grandchildren, Morgan and Macy Marchant, Bailey and Graham Voyles, and Finley and Shaw Coats. Other survivors include his brother, Tim Tackett (Melanie) of Oxford; sister, Sheila Chandler (Tommy) of Benoit; sister-in-law, Barbara Tackett of Marks; brother-in-law, James Arnette Shaw III (Susie) of Flowood; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Joseph Newton and Dorothy Helon Tackett, his brother Ronny Tackett and his sister Helon-Ruth Tackett.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to the charity of choice.
You can leave the family a condolence at: www.welchfuneralhomes.com.
