Doug Williams
On October 26, 2020, Doug Williams, loving husband, father, grandfather, and brother, passed away at the age of 76. Doug was born on July 28, 1944 to Henry Douglas Lloyd Williams and Beth (LeBar) Williams in Trenton, Michigan. Doug grew up in Caro, Michigan, where he read the encyclopedia from A to Z numerous times, built a number of engineering projects including a Bessemer converter, and spent untold hours exploring the woods with his brothers. He served honorably in the Navy during the Vietnam War, earning a National Defense Service Medal.
After completing his Bachelor’s degree from Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan, he earned a Master’s degree in Zoology from the University of British Columbia, and then spent many years working in the Technology and Healthcare fields, including 13 years as a nurse.
On June 16, 1972, he married Nancy Jeanne McCarthy. Together, they raised a daughter, Emily, in Seattle; in their retirement, they discovered their passion for horseback riding and later moved to Bothell to be closer to their equestrian community.
Throughout his life, Doug had great enthusiasm for nature and the outdoors, and spent more than a decade enjoying summers as a volunteer with the University of Washington’s Herbarium Foray, collecting plant specimens from the greater Pacific Northwest for inclusion in the University’s permanent collection. On leisurely walks with his wife, daughter and her family, he was regularly known to stop to inspect, gather and sample local flora and fauna, as well as identify birds native to the region.
He was an avid reader throughout his life, and enjoyed spending his time learning about subjects as diverse as evolutionary theory, astrophysics, and engineering. Friends knew him for his gentle, kind and peaceful spirit, his immense knowledge of the natural world, and his genuine love and warmth for all.
Doug is survived by his wife Nancy and daughter Emily Grossman, her husband Seth and their two grandchildren Jake and Spencer, as well as his brothers Tim, David, and John and his sisters Beth, Nora and Mary. He was pre-deceased by his parents and a sister, Nancy Williams Hand.
Doug was a wonderful kind man who will be missed by all who knew him.
A celebration of life is planned for the warmer weather of 2021; in lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Seattle Cancer Care Alliance or Evergreen Health Hospice Care.
11 Responses to “Doug Williams”
Leave a Reply
Please be respectful. Disrespectful comments will not be published
When you have successfully submitted a comment, look in the space above to see your comment.
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
If you do not see your comment, click HERE
Doug was a wonderful brother in law. I miss his fabulous hugs, love for life and healthy meals.
Love
Mary Warbington
May his memory be a blessing.
Greatly enjoyed many adventures with Doug over the years during and after our time at University of British Columbia. Many stories and many memories. I miss him.
Doug’s friendship remains precious to me. I’m a better thinker because of him.
Doug was unique (and it still feels strange to refer to him in the past tense). He was kind, intelligent and joyful, and all to an exceptional degree. The world is smaller without Doug in it.
I’m Rob Jones, Doug’s first cousin. Our grandmother would take me with her from the ages of eight or so till 12 to visit the Williams family in Caro. And I sure enjoyed interacting with this special large family. Doug, Tim, Dave and I had some major outdoor adventures. Doug was our fearless, wise leader–except maybe when we agitated a bumblebee nest in the garage wall. Doug advised us to remain very still. Tim, Dave and I took off. Doug stayed very still and got stung. Will miss you and pray for you and yours, Cousin.
A seeker of unity, with courage and kindness at his core, Doug spent much of his precious final days on earth reaching out, heart in hand, to his brothers and sisters, and to the expanding “family” of friends who were drawn to him and Nancy.
My lasting memory of Doug and Nancy’s love for each other is that it somehow existed, not as a separate entity, but as one with their deep love for Emily, Seth, Jake and Spencer.
The loss of Doug Williams has left an emptiness on this earth and one less twinkling star in the sky that will be very difficult to get used to. I did not know him as well as some people but in the past several years I realized his passion and compassion to everything good in life was something shared with his beautiful wife, Nancy, his warm hearted daughter Emily and her husband Seth and their children Jake and Spencer. Doug has left his knowledge, kindness, compassion and respect to grow in the ones he has left behind.
What a marvelous person! What an interesting life he had! I feel blessed to have known him and will honor his memory with respect and admiration.
Rest quietly my friend.
I am lucky to have lived in a world with Doug in it. I will forever remember his kindness, his appreciation for nature and science and his love for his family. I will miss him.
Doug was a beautiful soul. He was kind, compassionate, gentle and so much more. My heart goes out to Nancy,Emily,Seth and his grandsons. Also, I send my sincere condolences to Doug’s entire family. May his memory be for a blessing.
I will never stop missing him . . .