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My younger brother Doug passed away in Sutherlin, Oregon on January 24, 2009 so he's been gone almost exactly five years now.
After Viet Nam, Doug struggled with life, but eventually got his head screwed back on. He married a Canadian woman who had six children by a previous marriage and Doug helped raise them to adulthood.
He remained a big, happy guy to the very end. I've enclosed a photo of him and me taken on a mountain side in Oregon about two years before he died. He's the bigger of the two with the beard.
I hope this information is helpful for your class reunion or class newsletter. As time rushes on we Bothell boys must stick together and draw strength from each other.
John E. Irby class of '59
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Lynne Cobain (Lang)
John, thank you for sharing Doug's story. Viet Nam took a heavy toll on our young men. Its heartening to know that Doug was able to overcome his demons and move on. It would have been nice to be able to chat with him at the 50th, but I do appreciate hearing everyone's comments. To me he will always be 18, happy and smiling.
Wilma Wenzel (Mervos)
Thank you for sharing Doug's life story. His happiness was captivated in the photo. Keep his memories alive in your heart, as I will keep his high school memories alive in mine.
Wilma Wenzel Mervos
Alicia Kveum (Meredith)
Thank you for the update on Doug. I'm sorry he had to deal with demons like so many others that survived the war. So glad he found happiness later in his life. Love the photo. Thank you so much.Steve Talbot
Doug and I spent a lot of time together in high school. We had many great adventures, some testing the limits of our mortality at times.
I saw Doug after his return from Nam while he was taking classes at Western. One of the classes he took provided him the opportunity to learn circus tricks, one of which was the fire breathing act. At a party he entertained all the kids (and adults as well) with this skill....if I remember correctly he set the wallpaper on fire!
As happens, we lost contact and I have many times looked back on our adventures with both great joy and a little horror. He was a great friend and the world is poorer from his early departure.
Jim Reilly
Hi John,
I lived on hwy 2 on Bear Creek. I havent seen Doug since graduation. Doug and I had many adventures
growing up. Always wondered about Doug, but could never find him after my naval discharge. He was a good
friend to me. He had a great smile and good sense of humor. We will miss him.
David Findlay
I got to know Doug literally on the football field...he was a load to stop. Smart guy, a really nice person who was easy to like except when he ran over me. Like most of us, I lost track of Doug until one day in the 1980's I believe. I was out at a pipe construction project site checking on cost options for dealing with a difficult right of way. And there was Doug. Long hair pulled back, big smile, eating his lunch. If I remember correctly, he was doing some survey work. Maybe I have that wrong, but that is what I think he was doing. Seemed happy, in fact he was his laid back self, smiling as we talked. I had to leave so we only chatted for like 10 minutes. I have never seen him since. I am really glad that he had a happy life to the end it seems. David W. Findlay
Sharon Simonsen (Nelson)
Even though I never really had the opportunity to know Doug in high school, my heart was very heavy after seeing him struggle, I had been at a meeting in Bellingham at Western and he was there. I was shocked that he would come up to me and seemed to remember me! We talked for a short time and I could see someone kind of lost but so warm and engaging. Your article about your brother was so wonderfully touching and helped me put a positive end to his life. Over the years, we have thought about him and wondered how he was doing and always said a little prayer for him. Thank you so much for sharing this. As you can see from the many responses, even from those who really didn't know him, he touched many people's hearts and lives. My heart was also touched by the many caring people along his path that supported him. Good bless you all. Karma!
Claudia Brown (Blankenship)
John,
Like many of our class mates, I knew Doug, but not well. The thing I remember most about Doug was his smile. Unlike some, his eyes and entire face smiled. Viet Nam was a bad experience for all who were there, and many never reallly recovered. Losing one's sibling, especially a younger one is always difficult, but to know that Doug managed to find happiness at last helps. Thank you for sharing your story with us, Doug as well as all the others that we have lost too soon, will be missed at the 50th reunion,
Nick Bullard
How kind of John to fill in some of the blanks for us class members! My heart is saddened over the number of our class that are not still with us! I always enjoyed my friendship with Doug. Like others have said, his smile and sense of humor was infectious. But, like Dave Findlay said, he was hard to bring down on the football field. I'm sure I had several bruises attributed to Doug. Doug was a sharp person and I bet he was a class act father to those six children that he helped raise. So sorry his life was cut short, but his memory will long live on with his loved ones and classmates!
Skip Crist
Hi John. I just can't believe Doug passed away. I was so looking forward to seeing him at the class reunion. He was such a good friend. Keith Rousu and Doug and I all grew up together and now I have lost two of my best friends. I will never, ever forget Doug's infectious smile and his like able personality. On top of that, he was one of the smartest kids in school and probably the most talented athletically, just like you. Thank you for letting us know what happened. The last time I saw Doug was at our tenth year reunion and we gave each other a bear hug. I haven't seen him since and this saddens me so much. I am so sorry for your loss and I have to say, it is a loss for all of us. Take care and god bless you.