Dr. John Douglas "Doc" Smiley's Obituary
Dr. John Douglas ("Doc") Smiley, beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, son, and friend to all, passed away on July 10, 2026.
Born in Stafford, Kansas, Doug spent most of his early life in Hays, where he graduated from Hays High School before attending Fort Hays State University. He married the love of his life, Carol Kay Proesch, on April 15, 1965. Together they built a life rooted in faith, family, hard work, and service, sharing more than six decades of love and partnership.
Doug is survived by his devoted wife, Carol; his son, Dr. John Travis Smiley and wife Vickie; and his daughter, Dr. Shelby L. Smiley and husband Daniel Young.
He was immensely proud of his grandchildren: Joseph Fenoglio (Maryclaire McCabe), James Fenoglio (Logan Tucker), Jack Hoytal (Lauren Taldo), Carter Young (Bridget Bartlett), Joey Ryan (Crystal), William Ryan, and his cherished granddaughter, Summer Smiley, who was truly the apple of his eye. He was also blessed with five great-grandchildren, whose lives added another generation to the family he loved. Nothing brought him greater joy than watching his family grow and celebrating their accomplishments.
Doug's professional journey reflected his determination and lifelong commitment to helping others. After working in the insurance industry in Kansas, he made the courageous decision to return to school later in life to pursue his dream of becoming a chiropractor. Following his graduation from Cleveland Chiropractic College, he and Carol moved to Siloam Springs, AR, where they built a successful chiropractic practice together in West Siloam Springs, OK. For more than 30 years, Dr. Smiley faithfully cared for his patients, while Carol managed the office, creating a practice known for compassion, integrity, and personal attention.
His dedication to his profession earned him the respect of his peers, and he was honored as one of the youngest members ever inducted into the Oklahoma Chiropractic Association Hall of Fame.
Outside of his practice, Doug's greatest lifelong passion was raising Birmingham Roller pigeons. He began keeping roller pigeons at the age of four and remained devoted to the hobby throughout his life. A proud member of the National Birmingham Roller Club, he became well known for developing and breeding his own family of exceptional yellow Pensom rollers, admired for their outstanding performance and quality.
To those who knew him, "Doc" was remembered not only for his knowledge and generosity, but for his genuine kindness. He never met a stranger and made everyone feel welcome. His life was guided by a simple philosophy that he lived every day:
"The bottle of kindness is never empty. The more you use it, the better it becomes."
Those words perfectly captured the man he was. His kindness, humility, and willingness to help others touched countless lives and will continue to inspire all who had the privilege of knowing him.
Though he will be deeply missed, his legacy lives on through his family, his patients, his friends, and the many lives he enriched with his compassion, wisdom, and unwavering generosity.
A memorial service to celebrate Doug's life will be held Friday, August 21 at Central United Methodist Church in Rogers. Visitation at 1:00 pm and service at 2:00 pm.
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that memorial contributions be made to the National Birmingham Roller Club or the Model A Club of America in Doug's memory. The family is grateful for the love, prayers, and support shown during this difficult time.
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