We'll miss you Doug

Dale's brother Doug passed away about 5:40 in the morning last Thursday, Aug 20, 2009. He had fought brain cancer for about 2 1/2 years.

He started having seizures and passed out in the shower in March of 2007. He went to the hospital where he was diagnosed with a brain tumor. After undergoing surgery to remove as much as possible, we were told that it would grow back. It was a category 4 type of cancer (the most aggressive there is). He went through chemo and radiation and never gave up hope.

He was feeling good, when he started having seizures again about a year later. It had grown back and was even bigger this time. They did surgery again, with the warning that they would not do another surgery. He went through chemo and radiation again.

Then in February of this year, it came back again. This time Doug declined to go through any more chemo or radiation. He went on hospice in April and we were told he had approximately 6-8 weeks to live. But Doug did not want to leave his family and fought to the very end.

The good news is that Doug is with the Lord now. Doug was raised in church, but had not ever given God control of his life. In God's great timing, he found out that the tumor had come back on the morning of our church's Maundy service. Doug and the family came to church that evening for a time of worship and praise. Not a word was spoken except for reading of scripture and music. Doug came to the alter and did some business with God and walked away a changed man. Doug was always very focused on material things. He lived for his car or truck and his stereo system/equipment. He came to realize that these were just material possessions that lasted only a short time on earth.

For the longest time, Doug was convinced that God was going to heal him. He would argue with you and tell you that you didn't have enough faith if you even hinted that he may die. Eventually, he heard the Father tell him that he was going to take him home. Then he would argue with anyone that said anything otherwise. And he was right on both accounts.. God did heal him by taking him to heaven.

Doug lived 44 years here on earth, but was quite a witness those last few years. Doug made an impact on the people he met. There was even a stranger that came in to the funeral home because he saw Doug's name on the marquee. He went to the casket and looked at Doug, prayed over him, and went to Doug's Dad. He explained that he had met Doug at a mall one time when he left his truck lights on and Doug asked him to jump his car off. This happened several years ago, and he remembered him and saw his name and wanted to pay his respects. Doug bought a bible for a lady in our Sunday School class(even though he wasn't working ) because her bible was worn out and he wanted her to have a "good" bible. Doug took care of everything he owned that was valuable to him. He kept his own bible in the box when he wasn't reading it. He was always washing his vehicle, scrubbing every area carefully. We will get to spend eternity together. We will miss you Doug!! Until then, I think he is washing and waxing the chariots above...