Douglas Ross Little

Douglas Ross Little

December 3,1935 – December 19, 2023

Douglas Ross Little, age 88, passed away peacefully on December 19th.  He was born to Dode and Ike Little in Omaha, NE, where he lived for the remainder of his life. On August 25,1961, Doug married Nano Naughtin. They had three children, Malia, Leslie and Barry.

Doug attended Central High School in Omaha. He earned a basketball scholarship to Colorado College in Colorado Springs, CO. While at CC, he participated in ROTC and graduated with a BA in Business Administration in 1957.  After college, Doug was trained in jump school at Fort Benning in Georgia and was stationed thereafter at Fort Ord in California. He proudly served our country as a First Lieutenant in the Army Infantry.

Doug began his professional career in sales at IBM. He later worked for his father at Business Services and Equipment (B/S/E) and eventually purchased the company, serving as Owner/President for over twenty years.

Being involved in the community was important to Doug. He was Secretary for the Omaha Downtown Rotary, a Paul Harris Fellow for Rotary International, a member of the Omaha Businessmen’s Association, on the Board of Directors for Children’s Square, South Omaha Social Settlement and Metro Technical Foundation. He was also active in NOMDA (National Office Machine Dealers Association). Doug was a long-time member of the Omaha Country Club where he loved to play golf. He was humble about being Club Champion in ’69 and ’72!

Doug was an avid sports fan. He most closely followed Creighton basketball and Nebraska football. However, he seemed happiest when watching his grandson play sports.  Doug attended nearly all of Lorcan’s sporting events from Little League baseball throughout his grandson’s time at Mount Michael Benedictine High School where Lorcan played golf, basketball, and tennis. Two of Doug’s most proud moments were watching Lorcan become a State Champion in golf and tennis. Lorcan gives Grandpa Doug a lot of the credit for his success in sports and also in life.

Doug was well-traveled and  had an adventurous spirit. To say that he had an unbridled enthusiasm for life, embracing life to the fullest, would be an understatement. He loved new ideas and enjoyed sharing ideas with others. He looked forward to new experiences and was thrilled by the opportunity to connect people to one another.  It was not uncommon for Doug to say, “Let me tell you about this new idea…it’s the best idea ever!” or “Gosh, you really need to meet so and so.” or “Wow, what a great new experience…today was the best day ever!”.

We will fondly remember Doug as one who “lit up the room” with his presence. He was genuinely and sincerely interested in people, always curious about what was happening in the lives of others. Doug touched many hearts with his warmth and charisma. He was funny and friendly…bringing a smile to the face of all who he met.

Doug loved his God, his family, his dogs, his friends, his neighbors, and his country.  Simply said, he loved everyone who crossed his path.  In the words of A.A. Milne, writer of Winnie the Pooh, “How lucky we are to have something that makes saying ‘goodbye’ so hard.”  We will miss you, Doug!

Doug is survived by his wife, Mary “Nano” Naughtin Little; daughters, Malia Little Schleifer (Stan), and Leslie Jane Little; his grandson, Douglas “Lorcan” Jamal; his sister, Constance Little Dedrick “Connie”; his sister-in-law, Ann Naughtin Kineen; and his brother-in-law, Thomas F. Naughtin, III “Tom”; along with other family and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents Ivan Kenneth Little “Ike”; Doris Heacock Little “Dode/Mimi”; his brother-in-law, Walter R. Dedrick “Wally”; and his son, Barton Kenneth Little “Barry”.

Service is Postponed till further notice.

In lieu of flowers, Memorials may be made to:  American Heart Association of Nebraska, Omaha Methodist Hospital Foundation, or Hillsdale College.