Arthur A McDougal

Arthur A McDougal passed away peacefully at his home on June 2, 2023.  Though he was a longtime resident of Santa Rosa Beach, his life began in Boaz, Alabama on July 28, 1929, where he was born to parents John McDougal and Ella Ladicey McDougal.  After graduating from Sardis High School, Art obtained a BS from Athens State College and then went to the University of Alabama to earn a Master’s degree in Trade and Industrial Science.

For 61 years of his life, he was a devoted husband to his wife Jean Beth Walton McDougal.  They married in 1956 and loved their life together until her passing in 2016.    Art was skilled in a multitude of areas and the jobs he did during his lifetime prove that.  Through his years, Art held positions as a truck driver, a detective, a member of the Etowah County Rescue Squad, a pilot, a flight instructor, and a professor of Mechanical Engineering Technology at Gadsden State Community College.

The home he and Jean lived in in Blue Mountain Beach was designed and built by Art himself.  Taking advantage of any free time he could find, Art spent 11 years working to complete the house.  He loved flying and owned a Aeronica Champ at one time.  With his confidence and comfort with planes, Art was brave enough to test fly two home-built airplanes – one of those being a Stits Playboy.   He also built a car from a kit – a Frasier Nash – and got to showcase it by driving it Shriner’s parades in Gadsden, Alabama.  Creating art, riding motorcycles, scuba diving, boating, and traveling in an RV were hobbies he enjoyed at various times through his life as well.

Art was a cherished member of Seagrove Baptist Church as well as a Shriner and a 32nd degree Mason.  He loved being with friends and being involved in his community.  In his latter 80s, Art participated in a local Helicopter Easter Egg Drop.  He also adored Boston Terriers – Buddy, Rocky, Maggie, Lady, and Rocko were some of the luckiest Boston Terriers to have lived as they got to be loved on and cared for by Art.  Volunteering at Alaqua Rescue, he got to share his love of animals with many others, too.

Art is preceded in death by his beloved wife, Jean Beth McDougal; his parents, John and Ella Ladicey McDougal; sisters Alma Ruth Duncan and Eva Marie McDougal; and brothers Emory E McDougal, Dewey D McDougal, and Ottis O McDougal.

Surviving is his extended family of sisters-in-laws, brothers-in-laws, nieces, nephews, and cousins.

He truly lived by the words he so often spoke - “I don’t worry. It’s in God’s hands.”  His love of the Lord touched many lives and those who knew him recognized Art as a man of sincere faith.  When he was no longer able to leave his home, those who came to visit referred to Art as a genuinely good man, one who was wholeheartedly faithful to God.  Many spoke of his humor and his ceaseless love of his friends.  Art never turned away a friend coming to visit – even very shortly before his passing, when he was notified of a friend wanting to come visit, he unswervingly responded with “I love to see my friends.”

Loved ones will always remember and respect Art’s devotion to God and his adoration of his wife.  His sense of humor drew people to him will be remembered, as will his earnest love of his friends.  Great story telling was another of his unforgettable traits and the memories of hearing about the pranks and antics he pulled in his youth with never be forgotten.

Donations can be made to Seagrove Baptist Church, St Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital (www.stjude.org), or to Alaqua Animal Refuge (www.alaqua.org).

A memorial service for Art is planned for June 26, 2023,11:00 AM at Seagrove Baptist Church.   Please join the family for a celebration of Art's life in the Seagrove Baptist fellowship hall immediately following the memorial service.