Gilbert Douglass ("Doug") Sweetser

Gilbert Douglass ("Doug") Sweetser, of Frontenac, Kan., died unexpectedly on Thursday, Feb. 16, 2012. He was 72.

Doug was born at home in rural Walnut Township, Crawford County, Kan., on Aug. 2, 1939, to Glenn and Mildred (Huber) Sweetser.

He attended primary schools in Walnut and Hepler and graduated from Girard High School in 1957. After high school, he joined the Army Reserves. Upon completing his active duty, he worked for Kelso Feed in Pittsburg, Kan. In 1966, he took a job at Joe Smith Tobacco Co. in Pittsburg. In 1968, he helped Jimmy Smith establish Smith Foods Inc, in Joplin, Mo., where he was vice president of operations until his retirement in 2006.

On Jan. 14, 1961, Doug married Patricia Kay Pryor of Walnut. They lived in Pittsburg until moving to Frontenac in 2007.

Doug is survived by his wife, Patricia, of the home, and his son and daughter-in-law, Jeff and Kate Sweetser, of Fort Scott, Kan. Also surviving are his siblings, Glenn Sweetser, Ada Hull and Linda Cook and their families. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brothers, David LeRoy Sweetser and George Sweetser.

Friends and family will gather for a graveside service at 2 p.m., Monday, Feb. 20, at the Walnut Cemetery north of Walnut, Kan. Arrangements are under the care of Brenner Mortuary in Pittsburg.

The family suggests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the SEK Humane Society in Pittsburg.