Douglas Dene (Doug) Taber

Funeral services for Douglas Dene (Doug) Taber, 86, West Plains, Missouri, will be held at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, July 2, 2022 in the Rose Chapel at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.  

Mr. Taber passed away at 11:57 p.m., Monday, June 27, 2022, at University of Missouri Hospital, Columbia, Missouri.  

He was born January 20, 1936, at Ocie, Missouri, to Ossie Taber and Velma Clarkson Taber.  Doug graduated from Forsyth High School in 1953 and enjoyed the annual class reunions for over 60 years.  He earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Agriculture in 1957 from University of Missouri, Columbia and was a member of Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity.  During his time in college, he met a fraternity brother that actually became a brother, George Morrow.  Their bond resulted in the Taber’s and Morrow’s becoming one big family.  He began his career teaching first in Hollister, Missouri and later in Trussville, Alabama.  Doug owned several painting and decorating centers in Birmingham, Alabama for over 20 years with a reputation for honesty and quality that made him well known and respected throughout the area.  Even though Doug worked in a variety of occupations, farming was always his dream.  Throughout his business career, he owned a farm, first in Alabama and later in Missouri.  Farming was a calling to him.  His idea of the perfect day was to be out on the farm.  In recent years, his dream to farm has been kept alive through the loving efforts of his son-in-law, Brandon.  Two words that define Doug are “faith” and “family”.  His love of God and unrelenting knowledge that God “has a plan” defined his spirit.  The pride he had for his four girls was unwavering and unconditional.  Spending time with his grandsons filled his life with pure joy on a daily basis.  He was married for over 40 years to the true love of his life, Joyce; their lives together are the definition of true love.  He wasn’t just the patriarch of his family; he was the center of his family’s universe. 

He is survived by his wife, Joyce Taber; four daughters, Melanie Taber Sanford and husband, Bill, Deborah Taber McPhearson, Sherry Taber Anthony and husband, Scott and Jaime Taber Ball and husband, Brandon; ten grandchildren, Trey Sanford and wife, Catherine, Chase Sanford and wife, Susanna, Morgan O’Leary and husband, Sam, Trent McPhearson, Ava McPhearson, Ryan Anthony and wife, Jennifer, Hunter Anthony and wife, Stephanie, Dalton Douglas Ball, Peyton Ball and Weston Ball; and four great-grandchildren, Haddon Sanford, Callen Sanford, Walter O’Leary and Payson Anthony 

He joins his parents, one granddaughter, Stephanie Sanford, and two brothers, Curtis Taber and George Morrow in Heaven.  

Memorial contributions may be made to Barnett Cemetery and may be left at or mailed to Robertson-Drago Funeral Home, 211 West Main, West Plains, MO  65775.