Douglas Ray Monroe

Douglas Ray Monroe, age 80, of Dawson Springs, KY, passed away on Tuesday, May 23, 2017 at his residence. Mr. Monroe was born on June 9, 1936 in Charleston, KY to the late George D. Monroe and Thelma Ray Franklin Monroe. He was a member of the First Baptist Church and a 1953 graduate of Charleston High School.



Mr. Monroe pursued a career in the coal business for forty years beginning in 1955 when he began his career as a coal miner. In 1972 his mining career evolved when he began to work with the Kentucky Department of Mines and Minerals in the Madisonville District office where he served as the Department’s Chief Examiner for five years. During his term of service with the Kentucky Department of Mines and Minerals, Mr. Monroe was directly involved in many mine rescue and recovery operations, including a mine fire at Pyro’s Wheatcroft Mine in 1973, Scotia’s Oven Fork Mine in 1976, and an explosion on a longwall at Pyro’s William Station Mine in 1989. He was very involved in several capacities with the State Mine Rescue Team. Mr. Monroe retired in 1995.



Mr. Monroe is survived by his wife of 62 years, Dola Rose Poe Monroe of Dawson Springs, KY, a daughter ~ Donna and (Kent) Dillingham of Dawson Springs, KY, a son ~ Danny and (Deborah) Monroe of Hilton Head Island, SC, two sisters ~ Kathryn Rogers of Frederick, MD, and Coleen Armstrong of Madisonville, KY, five grandchildren ~ Dan and (Katie) Dillingham, Ryan and (Cortney) Dillingham, Daniel and (Chelsea) Monroe, Jr., Anna Monroe, and Chad and (Laura) Armstrong, and four great-grandchildren ~ Addy, Garrett, Liza, and Rosie.



Preceding Mr. Monroe in death are his parents.



Visitation for Douglas Ray Monroe will be Saturday, May 27, 2017 from 10:00 A.M. until the funeral hour at 1:00 PM at the First Baptist Church, Dawson Springs, Kentucky with Rev. Randall Rogers, Rev. Jackie Perkins, and Elder Jeff Winfrey officiating. Burial will follow at the Rosedale Cemetery, Dawson Springs, KY.



Active Pallbearers are his grandchildren and great grandchildren including Dan Dillingham, Ryan Dillingham, Chad Armstrong, Daniel Monroe, Jr., Anna Monroe, and Garrett Dillingham.



Expressions of sympathy may take the form of donations to: First Baptist Church Building Fund, 960 Industrial Park Rd., Dawson Springs, KY 42408.