Douglas Christopher Straley

Douglas Straley, a vibrant and cherished soul, passed away unexpectedly at the age of 33. He leaves behind a legacy of warmth, laughter, and a unique zest for life that will be deeply missed by all who had the privilege of knowing him.

Douglas is survived by his loving parents Janis and Steve; his devoted sister Tegan, with whom he shared an unbreakable bond; his very special friend Mikey; and his kitties Bebe and Alvin.

Standing tall at 6’5”, Douglas possessed a gentle spirit and his hugs were legendary – a warm, enveloping embrace that conveyed genuine care and affection. It is those comforting, honest hugs that will be most profoundly missed by his family and friends.

Douglas was a person of diverse passions and interests. He was an artist, musician, movie buff, and club-goer who also enjoyed science, nature and the outdoors. He loved hacky sack, juggling, tennis, ping pong, and had been looking forward to besting his new brother-in-law at pickle ball this summer.

Doug found endless joy in the immersive worlds of video games, enjoying the challenge and connecting with friends and fellow gamers online over a bowl of cereal (he LOVED his cereal!) He had an incredible ear for sound and as a true audiophile would twiddle endlessly with his sound system, fine tuning the sound levels, dampers, speaker locations, etc. He pretty much drove us crazy (“it’s FINE Doug!”) Kidding aside, he was a master of setting a mood through carefully chosen lighting, sound, and the perfect personalized playlist.

Douglas' unique blend of creativity, playfulness, and genuine warmth touched the lives of everyone he encountered. He loved making people happy and could be so darn silly, always making us laugh. He will be remembered for his kind heart, his infectious laughter, and his ability to create a sense of belonging wherever he went.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Humane Colorado (formerly The Dumb Friends League) or to the animal shelter of your choice.