Douglas Frederick Jones

Douglas and Patricia were married July 2, 1955, in Calgary. He is survived by their children Brian, Michael (Carole), and Cheryl Jones (Mike Oleck) and grandchildren Nicole Garvey, Stephanie Jones (Dimitri Veronel) and Alaire Jones. Doug is also survived by sister Marilyn Evans, sister-in-law Doreen Jones and first cousin Marguerite Hall. He was predeceased by brother Victor Jones and brother-in-law Edward Evans.

As a native Calgarian, Doug grew up in Ramsay, attending Ramsay School, Colonel Walker School and Crescent Heights High School. Attending the University of Alberta, Calgary, Doug graduated with his BEd in 1957 and completed his MEd in 1968.

As a teacher, guidance counsellor, coach and administrator, he taught at many high schools in Calgary: Forest Lawn, Viscount Bennett, Western Canada, Ernest Manning, Lord Beaverbrook and Dr. EP Scarlett High Schools.

Doug was always a natural athlete enjoying many sports throughout his life. He played hockey, baseball, football and especially basketball as a youth. While at the Universities of Alberta and Calgary, he was an important part of the strong teams with which he played. He loved the ‘skins games’ with his buddies well into his 60s.

Doug’s love of athletics led him naturally into coaching of many sports at the high school level. He settled into coaching basketball and led several of his teams to provincial finals and championships.

Doug spent many happy times curling at local rinks and skiing (downhill and cross- country) with his family in the winter. Always an ardent golfer, he was a member at Willow Park and Inglewood Golf Clubs. Patricia and Doug enjoyed golfing the courses around Alberta, British Columbia and Southern California. Doug played a great game of both golf and bridge into his 90s.

Doug had a love of jazz, Big Band and classical music. Attending Calgary Philharmonic concerts brought him great joy into his late 80s. He also had a quiet passion for photography. When Pat and Doug got married, his camera and reels of film came along, too. He later embraced slides and always carried a camera when he and Pat went out for a hike or travelled further afield.

Doug held a keen interest in planes and flight and earned his amateur pilot’s license in the early 1970s. He shared a little home-built plane with a partner for 17 years. He loved his flights to small airfields around southern Alberta, B.C., and Saskatchewan.

In 1976, Pat, Doug and Cheryl travelled to the United Kingdom to reconnect with Doug’s Welsh and English heritage. Spending time in Newtown, the birthplace of his father, was a special part of this trip.

In 1988, Doug and Pat joined a small community of friends in the wilderness of the Selkirk Mountains when they bought a little red cabin. Doug used his skills and ingenuity to expand and improve the space for his family and friends. Fresh air, beautiful glacier views and exploring the Trout Lake environs kept them busy and happy for many years. The golf courses were, of course, visited as often as possible. The cabin continues to be treasured and enjoyed by Doug’s children and grandchildren.

While in his 60s, Doug biked throughout the area of the Rhine River with a group of buddies and younger fellows. We loved listening to his stories about that trip for years afterward. A few years later, Doug and Pat cruised up the Rhine River and created many wonderful memories together.

Doug and Pat spent many camping trips exploring British Columbia and the western United States when their children were young. Often the destination was southern California where Pat’s sister, Carol, and her family lived. In the early 2000s, Doug, Pat, Carol and her husband, Bill, drove across Canada from Alberta to Prince Edward Island.

Doug gave attentive, selfless time, and comfort to everyone around him. Doug will be remembered for his loving care of his family, his life-long friendships, and his warm laughter.