Doyle ‘D.G.’ Douglas
Wed, 11/30/2016 - 7:15pm
News Staff
At a young age, Lt. Col. Doyle G. “D.G.” Douglas was inspired by the exploits of his father, Donald Pearce Douglas, and uncle, Lake City native Franklin E. “Frank” LeFevre, both of whom were multi-year veterans of the U.S. Marine Corps. Also inspiring to D.G. was the fact that his uncle, Frank LeFevre, piloted his own aircraft and was among Western Colorado’s aviation pioneers. LeFevre, manager of Gunnison Airport for years, encouraged D.G.’s interest in aviation and as an adolescent would take D.G. flying and hand over the navigation controls. Based on the inspiration of his father and uncle, D.G. Douglas piloted helicopters for the military during an illustrious career with the U.S. Marine Corps and, as a second, postmilitary career, served as a commercial airline pilot. Throughout his life, D.G. was a frequent returnee to hometowns in both Gunnison and Lake City, his Lake City heritage dating back four generations to his great grandparents, Dr. B.F. Cummings, and his wife, Ida Maud (Beam) Cummings, and great-great grandparents, Thomas and Maggie Beam, who were among Lake City’s first arrivals in 1875. D.G. was 63 years old when he died on Oct. 14 in Prescott, Ariz., following a short illness. Patriot Guard Riders officiated at his memorial service which was held at National Memorial Cemetery in Phoenix on Friday, Nov. 18. The son of Donald P. and Jean (LeFevre) Douglas, Doyle G. Douglas was born in Pueblo, Colo., May 15, 1953. His father served in the U.S. Marine Corps for a total of 28 years, including assignments in World War II, Korea and Vietnam, during which time D.G. and his sister, Pam, were enrolled in many schools, including several years in Gunnison. D.G. began school in Gunnison during the years his grandmother, Mabel Cummings LeFevre, was a revered kindergarten teacher. He and fellow classmates referred to Mrs. LeFevre as “Grandma,” and while in school in later years D.G. practiced calling her by the more formal title, Mrs. LeFevre. D.G. graduated from high school in Mission Viejo, Calif., in 1971 and immediately enrolled at Western State College, Gunnison, where he received degrees in geology and organic Chemistry in 1975. With inspiration from his father and uncle, he then began a 21-year career with the U.S. Marine Corps, commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in 1975 and receiving training as a naval aviation helicopter pilot at Pensacola, Florida. He was first stationed at Tunston, Calif., where he served as an instructor and Squadron Tactics Officer. For the bulk of his career with the Marine Corps, D.G. was headquartered out of Yuma, Ariz., where he served as Aircraft Maintenance Officer with assignments including providing maintenance for 22 helicopters aboard the USS Tripoli in 1987, followed by heading up aircrew and maintenance operations during the Gulf War. As Aircraft Maintenance Officer and later Squadron Executive Officer in Yuma, Douglas rose through the ranks, first as major and then, in 1992, Lieutenant Colonel. During Marine Corps Service for 21 years from 1975 until retirement in April, 1996, Lt. Col. D.G. Douglas was awarded the Naval Unit Citation, Meritorious Unit Citation, Pistol Sharpshooter Badge, Rifle Expert Badge, 4th award, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, and Meritorious Service Medal. After retirement, D.G. briefly worked as pilot for the Arizona Governor’s Office and was employed as pilot for commercial airlines including Grand Canyon Airlines and an airline firm which contracted to transport professional ice hockey teams between games in Canada and the U.S. He married Sharon Wetmore in Phoenix, Ariz., on Sept. 5, 1998. The couple had resided in Dewey, Ariz., since 2000. Th rough his father and uncle Frank LeFevre, D.G. was also an inspired and talented welder in both practical and decorative applications. In addition to his wife, D.G. Douglas is survived by his sister and brother-in-law, Pam and Mike Albright, of Castle Rock, Colo.; and an aunt and uncle, Margo and Bob Riggan, Wenatchee, Wash., as well as several cousins. D.G. was predeceased by his parents, D.P. and Jean (LeFevre) Douglas, and a niece, Tiff any Janelle.
