Douglas Scott Coleman
August 29, 1930 to March 20, 2020.

We all take our first breath. We all take our last breath. The value and quality of our lives are what we make it, in between those breaths. It seems that no matter how long someone lives, it is never long enough.

We lost our beloved Doug to the insulting death of a stroke.

He lived a big strong life. He did have a wish to fly in space. Maybe that is what he finally is doing. We hope so.

“I would rather be ashes than dust!
I would rather that my spark should burn out as a brilliant blaze than it should be stifled by dry rot.
I would rather be a superb meteor,
Every atom of me in magnificent glow,
than a sleepy and permanent planet.The proper function of man is to live, not to exist.
I shall not waste my days in trying to prolong them. I shall use my time.”

~ Jack London

Doug had a curious mind and a talent for inventing things. When he was about 12, he took an old vacuum cleaner out of the dump, tweaked it this way and that. He created a painting compressor and painted the family car. We hear tell it turned out awesome.

His pride and joy were designing and building from scratch several hovercrafts, the last of which earned the world title of Largest Privately Owned and Built Hovercraft. It is listed in Jane’s All the World’s Hovercraft book. He invented, designed, and machined a one-of-a-kind gear and blade system that allowed his last hovercraft to move in reverse. He took his hovercraft to Alaska and went halibut fishing. We spent many hours on the local rivers sightseeing and fishing.

Doug was an instrument-rated private pilot for over twenty years. He owned a Cessna 172 that he customized with a more powerful engine and instrument panel. He loved science and outer space.

Doug was born at home on August 29, 1930 at Litwar, West Virginia to Scott and Genevieve (Fisher) Coleman. He was the oldest of four. He lived his early life in the coal mining country of Paw Paw, Kentucky. His family moved West, in a Grapes-of-Wrath journey eventually landing in Hydesville in 1947.

Doug was an Army veteran who served on active duty for two years in Paris, France at SHAPE ((Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe) under General Eisenhower from June 17, 1952 to June 16, 1960, including reserve time in the States receiving an Honorable Discharge. He was a radio technician.

Doug met the love of his life, Rita Lavely in 1950. They were married July 14, 1951 in Eureka until the day he passed. They have two daughters, Debra Lake and Brenda Hammock.

Doug worked for the NWP Railroad for two years as a Brakeman and then Conductor, and realized they were going to close. After that he worked as a self-employed man most of his life. He owned a TV and radio repair shop in Fortuna for a time in the late 50s. He spent the rest of his working life as a self-employed gyppo logger. If you go to the logging museum in Scotia, you will see a giant cross section of a redwood tree. Dad felled that tree.

Doug was preceded in death by his parents, Scott and Genevieve Coleman, his brother, Tom Coleman and Dad’s amazing genius dog, Missy.

He is survived by his wife, Rita, his daughters; Debra (Mike) Lake, Brenda (Dale) Hammock; Grandchildren, Heather (Patrick) McTigue, M. Isaac Lake, Leif Douglas Mattson, Rachael Elizabeth Coleman, and Matthew Donald Winden. He has five great grandchildren. His is also survived by his sister, Wilma Wilcox-Bailey and Jack (Patricia) Coleman and their children. He also leaves behind family of choice, Lorene Coleman and Heather Lake.

A memorial service will be held at the Hydesville church on Dad’s 90th birthday on August 29, 2020 at 3 p.m. Due to Covid-19, masks and social distancing are required.

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