Douglas Ralph George

Beloved, son, brother and uncle, Douglas Ralph George, was born on August 16, 1957, to Lloyd D. and LaPrele George, in Abilene, Texas, the first of four children. Douglas suffered brain injuries at birth, which resulted in profound lifelong challenges, including the inability to speak. Despite his limitations, Doug's life was full, rich and unique in so many respects.

As a child, Doug attended Helen J. Stewart School for Special Education in Las Vegas, graduating in 1976. Douglas engendered and received special kinds of love his entire life. From the beginning, his parents recognized his immense value and his ability to teach all who knew him. They raised him with unwavering dedication, love, and kindness. Additionally, he had a particularly loving relationship with his grandparents, Ross and Myrtle George, as well as with his siblings.

As an adult, Douglas worked for decades at Opportunity Village where he learned and performed a variety of different tasks. In fact, in his work he may have very well played a role in Nevada politics because he manufactured tens-of-thousands of political campaign buttons, including for some of Nevada's most high profile and remarkably close races.

Doug was a friend to all. He greeted members of his congregation at the chapel door, with a big smile, a hearty nod, and a copy of that week's program. He always looked sharp in his church clothes and his perfectly combed spectacular head of hair. Indeed his hair was the envy of the males in the family. If you were really lucky, you were one of Doug's really good friends and he made sure that you knew it. He would give you a wry smile, look straight into your eyes and give you your special handshake or fist bump. In fact, Douglas had very special friends, such as Elder Neal A. Maxwell of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and Harry and Landra Reid. Of course, his co-workers at opportunity Village were also special friends. Indeed, Doug's social reach was remarkable and broad for anyone, let alone somebody without speech.

Douglas also had a unique good-bye for his special friends. Whenever he would leave your house, or you would leave his, he would gesture, "Call me." Seldom did one call the George home without hearing that extra click, on one of the extensions, which meant Douglas was listening in and you had fulfilled your promise to call him. The advent of cell phones really messed up his phone routine.

Douglas had a range of activities he loved, many of which we should all wish we could do more often. He loved bowling, basketball, Special Olympics, and dancing with his co-workers. His Saturday walk, in any and all weather, from home to the Terrible Herbst carwash on Sahara was the highlight of his week. Douglas also loved the occasional ad-hoc walk or hike and his hands were always full of the "treasures" he found along the way. He also loved to go outside, lie down on his back, and watch the sky. He loved to be out in the yard where he could watch the birds, the lizards, the bugs and his nieces and nephews and just think. We have no doubt he had many meaningful thoughts he could not express.

No description of Douglas' life would be complete without a mention of the eating habits, which also included a ritual: Del Taco. He loved a taco salad and chocolate milkshake. Those two things could always make the world right. Perhaps he was much wiser than all of us.

Douglas is survived by his mother LaPrele; his brother Stephen (Michelle); his sisters Michele Davies (Brady) and Cherie Haddock (Rich); many nieces and nephews; and his uncle Bill George (IlaRae) and his cousins.

He was preceded in death by his father Judge Lloyd D. George and his grandparents.

His siblings are so grateful for the special relationship he shared with his mother, who cared for him day and night for his entire life. She is the personification of a saintly special needs mother. Douglas was a gift to our family; he made everyone around him a better person.

We are overjoyed and comforted by the knowledge that he is experiencing a wonderful reunion with his father, grandparents, and some of his special friends and that he is finally able to share 65 years’ worth of stories, wisdom, and knowledge that we can only imagine.

Well done Dougie, you truly overcame and conquered!

In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes donations to Opportunity Village as an expression of sympathy.

Fond memories may be shared at www.palmeastern.com for the George family.