Douglas Gordon Speer

Douglas Gordon Speer passed away on September 9, 2024, in Riverside, California. He is survived by his wife Carol, seven children, ten grandchildren and fifteen great grandchildren, as well as Carol’s two daughters, five grandchildren and two great grandchildren. Doug is preceded in death by his parents, sisters Becky and Jessie, and his first wife Beverly.

A funeral service for Douglas will be held Tuesday, September 24, 2024 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM in the Waverly Chapel at Fairhaven Memorial Park Mortuary, 1702 Fairhaven Avenue, Santa Ana, CA 92705. A graveside service will occur Tuesday, September 24, 2024 from 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM at Holy Sepulcher Cemetery, 7845 Santiago Cyn Rd, Orange, CA 92869. A reception will occur Tuesday, September 24, 2024 from 12:30 PM to 4:30 PM, in the Gallery and Waverly Courtyard areas, located at Fairhaven Memorial Park Mortuary, 1702 Fairhaven Avenue, Santa Ana, CA 92705.

Doug was born in San Bernardino, CA, on March 9, 1936, to Gordon and Barbara (Garrabrant) Speer. They lived many places and ended up in Whittier, CA. Doug graduated from Whittier High School in 1953, then attended Fullerton Junior College where he met his first wife, Beverly Talbott. They were married on April 1, 1956, and lived most of their lives in La Habra, CA. They raised seven fabulous children, who, in turn, gave them ten incredible grandchildren and fifteen precious great-grandchildren. Sadly, Beverly passed away in 2015. On July 28, 2018, Doug married his second wife Carol, and they moved to Riverside, CA, where he lived until his death.

Doug graduated from Long Beach State College in 1963 with a BS in accounting, when child number five was in the oven. Somehow, he handled a full-time job (for a time working the night shift), going to school and the many demands of a growing family. He spent his entire working career at the Los Angeles Times in the IT department, moving steadily up the corporate ladder, until retiring in 2001 at age 65. Doug was the go-to person in the family for most things computer related. When child number seven had graduated from college, Doug could have written a book about all the myriad ways to pay for college educations.

Doug and Beverly went camping on their honeymoon and all their children were born with camping as part of their DNA. Family vacations were spent driving around the west coast with a tent trailer. Trips to the Grand Canyon, Zion, the Redwoods and Sequoias are highlights of the many happy times.

Doug was an all-around cheerleader for all his children and made time to coach Little League baseball and be a Boy Scout Leader for his sons. It was in this role that he led the troop to earn the Peak Bagger award, for which they summited Mt. San Gorgonio, Mt. San Jacinto, Mt. Goode and Mt. Whitney among others.

A tennis player from a young age, Doug played on his high school team and regularly until just 2 months before his death. A weekly game fiercely competed with his son Don kept him fit. Doug even won one match just after his 88th birthday. He was an avid reader of history, completing more than 400 books after his retirement.

Doug will be buried alongside his first wife Beverly. He was loved by many and will be missed by all.