Leslie Allan "Les" Douglas

Leslie Allan “Les” Douglas, 71, of New Windsor passed away suddenly, Wednesday, April 22, 2026 at Carroll Hospital Center in Westminster after a brief illness. Born Saturday, September 4, 1954 in New Orleans, Louisiana, he was the son of the late Walter Edwin “Buddy” Douglas and Helen Virginia Douglas, nee Brown. Les was the beloved and cherished husband of Lori Kay Douglas, nee Shamer, his wife of 34 years. In addition, he was the loving and adored dad of Bonnie Douglas and her partner Steve Aucott of Philadelphia, PA and Virginia Anne “Annie” Douglas of Los Angeles, CA; brother of Ellen Douglas Deussing and her husband Fred of Walland, TN; and brother-in-law of Robin Strine and her husband Carl of New Windsor.

In addition to his parents, Les was predeceased by his brother Walter Edwin Douglas, III.

Les spent his early years in New Orleans, LA and when he was of elementary school age, his family relocated to Annandale, VA where he graduated from Annandale High School in the Class of 1972. His love of music carried him to the University of Maryland, College Park (UMCP), where he graduated in 1976 with a degree in Music. He went on to earn his teaching degree from there and then continued on to earn an MBA from the University of Baltimore in 1991.

His career spans many years working as the Band Director for several local high schools from 1980 to 1996. He started working for the former North Carroll High School in Hampstead, then moved for one year to Perry Hall High School in Nottingham before returning to Carroll County the following year to direct the Westminster High School Marching Band in Westminster. While at Westminster High School he met and married fellow music educator, the former Lori Kay Shamer. In addition, during his tenure as a high school music educator in Carroll County, he served as the president of the Maryland Band Directors Association from 1990 to 1992.

In 1996, Les moved from being in the band room to becoming an Area Transportation Supervisor for the Howard County Public School System. He later became the Director of Transportation for the Anne Arundel County Public School System until his retirement in 2021. Les, never being one to sit still, came out of retirement briefly to work as the Acting Director of Transportation for the Montgomery County Public Schools.

As an active member of many professional school transportation organizations, Les wrote and published articles in various education and trade publications. His love of music continued by playing in local community groups (most recently the Carroll Concert Band), and he served for a time as the band director for the Encore Community Music Association.

Les had a deep devotion to the Lord and was an active member of the Greater Grace World Outreach Church, where he regularly worshiped and participated in church activities. He was an avid reader, particularly of any book about history. He loved his family and was intensely proud of his daughters. Les was a very snappy and sharp dresser, and will always be known for his sport coats, bow ties, and shiny dress shoes.

The family will receive family and friends 2-4 and 6-8 p.m., Thursday, April 30, 2026, and 10 to 11 a.m. Friday, May 1, 2026, with the funeral service beginning promptly at 11 a.m. at the MYERS-DURBORAW FUNERAL HOME, P.A., 91 Willis Street, Westminster (21157).

Following the service, Les will be laid to rest at the Patapsco United Methodist Church Cemetery, 2930 Patapsco Road, Finksburg (21048).

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Les’s name to Carroll Concert Band, C/O The Community Foundation of Carroll County, 255 Clifton Blvd, Suite #313, Westminster, MD 21157. Please place in the memo, in Memory of Les-Carroll Concert Band.

Online condolences may be offered at www.myersdurborawfh.com.