Douglas H. Newman

Douglas H. Newman, age 68 of Sanford, passed away August 29, 2026, with family by his side. He was born on November 13, 1957, to the late Eldon and Lillie (Zilska) Newman in Sanford, where he was raised and educated.

For most of his life, Doug worked alongside his parents, who were the sextons of Jerome Twp Cemetery, helping to care for graves and doing maintenance. He also managed Bye Gordon’s Gas Station in Sanford and his own lawn care service before going on to manage Country Hardware on the Corner of M-20 and M-30. In 2005, Doug and Linda bought Country Hardware and managed it for 25 years. Doug also cut and sold countless cords of firewood during these years.

Being outside brought Douglas peace, with his favorite hobbies being hunting deer and steelhead fishing in the Two Hearted River, something he did for 30 years. He enjoyed camping, especially sitting by the campfire and having a nice, cold Budweiser. Doug also was an avid fan of NASCAR.

On February 26, 1982, Douglas married the former Linda Emery, and they shared 44 years together. Also surviving is his stepdaughter, Mickie May; granddaughter, Brianna Johnson; great grandchild, Kingston Johnson; sister, Eva (John) Roberts; nieces, Anita Eberhart and Jamie Bussell; nephew, Mike Lamont; along with many other extended family members and friends. In addition to his parents, Douglas was preceded in death by his brother, Frederick Newman.

A time for sharing memories will be held at 1:00 pm on Thursday, September 3, 2026, from the Wilson Miller Funeral Home. Burial will follow in Jerome Twp Cemetery. Visitation will be on Thursday from 11:00 am until the time of service. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be offered to Woodland Hospice House, an organization of one’s choice, or to the family.