Douglas L. Retherford, age 55 years, of Clinton, Missouri passed away Saturday, September 5, 2026, at Research Hospital, Kansas City, Missouri. Celebration of Life services will be held 3:00pm Saturday, October 10, 2026, at the Vansant-Mills Chapel, Clinton, Missouri. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service from 2:00-3:00pm. The family asks everyone to gather at the Clinton Elk's Lodge after the service to continue celebrating Doug's Life. The family suggests memorial contributions to the Henry County Recovery Court and may be left in care of the funeral home. Fond memories and condolences can be left online at www.vansant-millsfuneralhome.com .

Douglas Leroy Retherford was born on 10-10-1970 in Columbia, Missouri to his parents, Kenny and Carol Retherford. He passed away on September 5th, 2026, at Research Hospital surrounded by loved ones after a short battle with cancer.

Doug grew up in the Houstonia area. He graduated from Northwest High School in1989. Anyone who knew Doug never forgot him. Doug lived life out loud. He got into law enforcement at a young age. He started at the jail in Pettis County and worked his way to being a road deputy, a narcotics officer, a detective and the director of 911. In 2006, Doug worked as a private contractor for 4 years in Iraq training Iraqi police officers, and bomb dogs. In 2011 he again worked as a private contractor in Afghanistan, training police officers. He returned to work in Henry County at the Jail in 2014 and most recently as a Pretrial Officer for the 27th Circuit.

Doug and Rebecca had a farm filled with goats, chickens, dogs and cats. Doug especially enjoyed drinking beer in the pool and watching the antics of the chickens and goats. He spoiled every animal that he owned and often commented that he liked animals better than people. Doug was gruff on the outside. He had a larger-than-life personality. He was not a morning person and greeted everyone with a grunt until he had his coffee. If he loved you, you knew it and if you were in his circle, you knew he had your back. He had absolutely no filter when he spoke and you never had to wonder how he felt. His lack of filter was often very entertaining. He had the best sense of humor and could somehow get away with saying things that others could not. He would help anyone that needed it.

He was preceded in death by his father Kenneth Leroy Retherford, Grandparents Woodrow Retherford and Lorine Crain, Casey and Rachel Narron.

He is survived by his wife and love of his life Rebecca of the home, his mother Carol, his daughter Bethany Retherford (Jarred), his son Christopher Leroy and his bonus sons Bradley Lentz (Lexi), and Christopher Lentz (Amanda), as well as his first grandson Asher. He was so proud to be a grandpa, and we affectionately named him Grumpa. Also survived by his Aunt Bev Gerken (John) and Aunt Barb Ryburn (Tom). He is also survived by his in-laws JC and Sue Bradley.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Vansant-Mills Funeral Home of Clinton, Missouri.