Douglas Lown

On Tuesday, September 23, 2025, in the cool of the fall sunset, Douglas “Doug” Royce Lown answered the call of his Heavenly Father and passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his wife and daughters. Doug entered Heaven the same way he lived his life: with dignity, courage, and strength of resolve.

Just three weeks before he passed, Doug told his home hospice nurse as he met her for the first time, “I’ve lived more life in my 70 years than most people do in 90 [years].… I burned the candle at both ends.”

Born on October 12, 1953, to the late James Dennis and Joyce Causey Lown, Doug was a man of quiet strength and deep faith who lived his life following in the footsteps of Christ. He was an ordained deacon and elder at Aveleigh Presbyterian Church. While some may have found him reserved, those who knew him understood his generous heart and his natural gifts as a teacher and counselor. Yet only those lucky enough to call him “Dad” or “Papa Doug” were privy to his whimsical, child-like mischief.

A gifted athlete from a young age, Doug excelled at football and soccer at Lithonia High School. He went on to play soccer at Presbyterian College, where he earned a degree in Counseling and Physical Education in 1976. It was there he met his college sweetheart and the love of his life, Angelia "Angie" McGregor, his wife of 49 years.

Doug dedicated his life to helping others, both professionally and personally. He began his career as an Admissions Counselor at Spartanburg Technical College before transitioning to the public school system. Doug enjoyed teaching Physical Education and Driver's Education at Union High School while also coaching the Varsity and JV football, soccer, and wrestling teams. He also found time to serve as a nighttime counselor for the Union County Alcohol and Drug Safety Action Program (ADSAP) for many years. After moving to Newberry, he again invested his time in coaching soccer for both the Newberry High School boys’ and girls’ soccer teams, which included his own daughter, Kelly. As a coach and mentor, Doug had a profound impact on the lives of countless young people and athletes.

Beyond his professional life, Doug was a man of diverse passions. An avid outdoorsman, he loved fishing and deer hunting. He always looked forward to quality time with family, especially reef fishing, storytelling, and key lime pie tasting at his parents’ house in the Florida Keys. Doug was a professional fishing guide on Lake Murray, SC, holding his USCG OUPV Captain's License. A fierce competitor, Doug won innumerable fishing tournaments, a testament to his exceptional skill and deep knowledge of the sport, particularly when it came to largemouth bass. He had an artistic eye and strong, steady hand from which he created his own brand of fishing lures that he hand-poured and hand-painted. He poured that same care and eye for detail into maintaining his beloved lawn and fought relentlessly to keep Angie’s flowers and magnolia leaves off it! Doug was also a lifelong and loyal fan of the Georgia Bulldogs, a passion that made every Saturday an event, and he never missed out on sideline coaching from the living room.

Doug’s legacy continues through the lives he touched, both within his family and among the many students, athletes, colleagues, and friends who were privileged to know him. He cherished time spent with loved ones, especially sharing stories and laughter around the dinner table, and was always ready with a word of encouragement or advice. His faith, compassion, and steadfast presence will be deeply missed by all who had the honor of knowing him.

Doug’s legacy lives on the lives of his family and the many lives he touched. Surviving Doug are his wife, Angie Lown; his daughters, Heather Lown Geffert (Ashley Knowles) and Kelly Lown; his granddaughter, Ansley Geffert; his brothers, Jim Lown and Kenton Lown (Sherry);his sister, Beth Piezynski (Dave) and a number of nieces, nephews, and cousins.

A service to celebrate Doug's life will be held on Saturday, October 11, 2025, at 11 AM at Aveleigh Presbyterian Church, 1211 Calhoun St, Newberry, SC.

Following the service, the family will host a reception, honoring Doug, at the Edward Kyzer Newberry Firehouse Conference Center,1227 McKibben Street in Newberry.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Betty J. McGregor Fund for Cottage Life at Thornwell Home for Children at Thornwell.org/give(Click orange “Donate” box, click the tiny box underneath and type Doug Lown, find amount you wish to donate, or type in USD and your chosen amount or send via snail mail: 302 South Broad Street, Clinton, SC 29325) or give to Bernardo Hospice Care, 2306 Harrington Street, Newberry, SC 29102.