Douglas "Doug" Loring Dawson

Douglas Loring Dawson was born on the family farm outside Neville, Saskatchewan on April 21st, 1933 and passed away suddenly yet peacefully on March 7, 2017 surrounded by his loving family.  Doug was the fourth child of Cy & Lil Dawson’s six children and was a precocious child.  Doug went into the workforce at a very young age and worked on farms all over Saskatchewan and then went to Ontario with his oldest brother, Keith in the 1950’s to work in his brother’s gas station and had some interesting tales to tell of those days.

In September, 1962 he was working in the Rocanville, Saskatchewan area and decided he would like to rent a small home.  In those days, one had to go to the town by-law officer to find a rental home.  As he was talking to Bob Gould about the possibility of setting some roots in Rocanville, Bob’s daughter come out of the house to tell her Dad supper was ready.  Doug took one look and his heart was pounding.  At the age of 29, he just found the gal who would become the one and only true love of his life, Shirley.  It was love at first sight and the two married 4 months later.  Doug and Shirley lived in the southeast part of Saskatchewan for a short while before making their home in Neville, Saskatchewan for a number of years.  Doug was so proud of his beautiful, young bride and treated her like a princess.  Into their union, they brought, Terry Douglas on November 3, 1963, Darrell Roy on March 20, 1965 and Barbara Lynn on April 23, 1968.  The years in Neville were wonderful ones and Doug always got a chuckle out of the antics of his two little boys, and was never able to play the part of the disciplinarian very well, he was just too kind. 

The small family moved out to BC, when Doug heard there were fruitful jobs in the sawmill and coal mine industries.  The family resided in BC for a few years before the smell of crude drew them to Coronation where they remained until Doug’s passing.

There were always lots of fun adventures in the Dawson family.  Doug always had some activity planned for Shirley and the kids, whether it was clearing off a pond to have skating parties with other families in BC, taking the kids fishing or teaching them how to play ball.   One of Barb’s fondest memories is her Dad patiently trying to teach Shirley how to drive a car and the three kids screaming in the backseat in fear of their Mom’s habit of becoming hypnotized by the lines in the middle of the road.

Doug’s passion in life was country music, he was an accomplished guitar player and even better singer.  Doug had a band, Doug Dawson and his Frontier Rhythm Pals and they toured throughout Saskatchewan playing at dances.  One of Dad’s fondest memories of those days was when he was playing a gig at a resort and his band got too drunk backstage to perform, he had to instantly become a one band that night.  The band got fired but they hired Doug on for the summer on the condition he find himself a sober band, he had his Mom, Lil stand in as the drummer as she was an accomplished musician on the drums and accordion.  Doug had much success as a musician and had the most beautiful voice.  Childhood memories of Terry, Darrell and Barb are winter evenings sitting around their Dad while he played the guitar and sang.  Their Mom would always look at Doug with love and pride as he was the most handsome entertainer she had ever seen.  At family functions and get togethers with friends, Doug was always asked to perform and people were in awe at his talent. 

Doug loved to tell stories of his days in Saskatchewan and could tell a story that would bring a person to tears with laughter and provide them with all sorts of trivia they could use for a lifetime. 

Doug and Shirley shared a love together that can only be described as the “greatest love story that one could ever know”; their shared love taught caring, love, respect and compassion to all who ever knew them.   They always wanted to spend all their time together because they were true soul mates who shared everything together.  When Shirley passed, Doug said they were like the never ending song of love.  Doug was devastated when he lost his Shirley in 2009.

The most exciting time in Doug and Shirley’s lives began in October, 1986 when their first grandchild, Sean was born.  Adam joined in 1988, followed by Cody in 1988, Andy in 1991, Brant in 1996 and Reilly in 2002.  Doug loved to talk about the kids to anyone who would lend an ear, he loved his grandchildren more than anything and was thrilled when even as adults, they would stop in for a visit and always had a huge hug for him.

Doug always had a twinkle in his eye and loved a good joke, liked to be silly at times and loved a good visit with anyone.   He was the friendliest, kindest soul once could ever meet, he very seldom said a negative word about anyone or anything and if he did, it was usually said in jest with a grin and that twinkle in his eye.   In his later years, he was always referred to as being, “so darn cute”.  Oddly, it was a comment, he relished, he loved being known as that adorable little old man.  He will be sadly missed by his family, his friends and his entire community. 

Doug was predeceased by the love of his life, Shirley, his parents, Cy and Lil Dawson, his in-laws, Bob & Sandra, brother Keith and nephew, Mark.  Doug is survived by his three children and grandchildren, Terry, Sean (Rima)and Cody (Ashleigh), Darrell, Connie, Adam, Andy, Trent, Stephanie and Anthony, Barb, Neil, Brant and Reilly.  Doug is also survived by his siblings, Gerry, Audrey, Mac, Roy and families and Shirley’s siblings, Lloyd, Trevor, Wendy, David & families.

The family would like to thank the Doctors and Nurses at the Coronation Hospital, the EMT’s , Doctor and Nurses at the Stettler Hospital and the community of Coronation for all their love and care they have shown us throughout this difficult time.

Memorial Tributes may be made in Doug's memory to the Coronation Hospital Foundation, Please specify Home Away from Home Room, Mail Bag 500, Coronation, AB. T0C 1C0.

Heather Caseley, Funeral Director of Coronation Funeral Home, Box 358, Coronation, Alberta T0C 1C0 was entrusted with funeral arrangements. 403-578-2928
www.coronationfuneralhome.ca

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