Douglas Kirkland

Douglas Liddell Kirkland, 53, of Ocala, Florida, passed away suddenly at home on June 28, 2021. To no one's surprise, he was working on stereo systems for his children at the time he died. He was born November 24, 1967, in Tampa, Florida, to Willie Jim Kirkland and Patricia Elsie Johnson Kirkland. He was the youngest sibling and best baby brother to two older sisters Jennifer Raye Jones (Ron) of Marietta, Georgia and Katherine LeClaire Oppel (George) of Jacksonville, Florida. Doug graduated from C. Leon King High School where he met the love of his life, Sherri Diane Rice at age sixteen. Doug took Sherri to prom, married her, and later fathered her three beautiful children. Doug would tell you that he always knew they were meant to be. As an adult he would often say that while he could not live without her, she would be able to make it without him. A lifelong Seminole, even when it wasn't cool and his family supported his father's alma mater, Georgia Bulldogs, Doug was a proud graduate of Florida State University where he earned his Bachelor of Art's degree in Religion. After his happy years at FSU, he earned his Juris Doctor degree from the Walter F. George School of Law at Mercer University in Macon, Georgia. He loved law school, made lifelong friends at Mercer, and got married between second and third year. His greatest pride was that his terminally ill mother was able to attend his law school graduation. He and Sherri moved to Ocala in 1993 and immediately made it their home. During his practice of law, Doug represented people from all walks of life. He willingly represented people who were unable to afford legal representation and often provided services pro bono. Many of those people became friends and Doug was always humbled by their gratitude. Doug enjoyed a fulfilling law practice for many years before embarking on a career in real estate. Law and real estate were his jobs, he would always say, not his life. They were simply the professions that enabled him to provide for his greatest love - his wife and children. He was also a man with an innate desire to help people, to impact in even a small way, the lives of people he encountered in every walk of his life. Doug, like his father, loved to golf. The weekend before he died, he enjoyed two games of golf with his favorite foursome - him, Kim, Bill, and Austin. He was an avid sports fan and would watch almost anything except women's lacrosse. He and his son, Jackson, spent countless hours analyzing 20 years of FSU football film. His love of sports combined with his patience and affinity for teaching led him to coach t-ball, baseball, soccer, bowling (Motley Crew), and football teams for 25 years. He was a big fan of the local MCYFL program and even after Jackson aged out, continued to volunteer his time as a coach. He was a history nerd, a sci-fi enthusiast, a conspiracy theory aficionado, and had recently become a You-Tube fan teaching himself how to rebuild stereo equipment and restore sailboats. It is unknown how many times he watched the Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, Harry Potter, and Jason Bourne movies - but it is likely a high number. Most of all, Douglas loved his family and his animals. There were times he likely loved animals more than most people. They were naturally drawn to him and he supported local animal rescue by fostering over 100 kittens and puppies and volunteering his time in general. His home was full of cats, dogs, and kids and while he complained about never being alone, he never turned any away. In fact, the evening he died, his family's pregnant foster dog "Wiggles" gave birth to seven fat puppies. He will be sorely missed by his own animals: Piper, Bean, Buffington, Lucy, Po, Fern, Mama Cat, Jughead, Diego, Oakley, Skippy John Jones, Little Sherri; and Madison's cats Boyd and Raylan. He was preceded in death by his loving parents, Dr. and Mrs. W. J. Kirkland of Tampa, Florida (formerly of Douglas, Georgia) and his much loved nephew, Boxer Jones of Marietta, Georgia. Doug leaves a legacy behind through his love for his wife, Sherri, with whom he shared 36 years of life, 29 of those as a married couple; his daughter, Madison Myers of Ocala; his son, Jackson Liddell of Ocala; his daughter, Emerson Jane of Ocala; and his bonus son, Isaiah Robinson-Davis of Ocala. There was rarely a time in his life that someone wasn't living in his house who was chosen and not born a Kirkland. He is missed by his wife, his children, his sisters, his friends and work associates, his wife's parents, Ben and Barbara Rice (Pops and Nana) of Tampa, his wife's brother and sister-in-law, Mike and Diane Rice of Tampa, and his loved nieces and nephews, Emily, Rachael, Judge, and Ben.A tribute service will be held on July 31, 2021 at 3:00 p.m. on the College of Central Florida Vintage Barn property located at 4020 SE Third Avenue, Ocala, Florida 34480 just off 475. Everyone is welcome to attend this jubilee' which will include - pursuant to his wishes - live music and BBQ. In lieu of flowers, donations be made to Marion County Youth Football League (MCYFL), https://www.mcyfl.us/mcyfl , to Voices of Change Animal League (VOCAL), https://vocalforpets.org/ , or to the fund set up to provide for his youngest child's education. https://www.gofundme.com/f/the-douglas-kirkland-family?qid=81474c2151df71c1de47de2d2659b76d Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Roberts Funeral Homes East Chapel, 2739 SE Maricamp Road, Ocala, Florida 34471 (352) 732-9944.

Douglas Kirkland

November 24, 1967 - June 28, 2021