Douglas Roger Earle

Douglas Roger Earle was born on December 13, 1942 in Plainwell, MI, the son of Roger (“Dusty”) and Cora (Elferink) Earle, and passed away peacefully in his sleep on July 6, 2017 at the age of 74. At the age of two, Douglas lost his father, Roger Earle, in World War II. He was raised by his mother, Cora, Grandpa and Grandma Earle and Auntie Ruth in his younger years, until Cora married William Johnson. Douglas married his high school sweetheart, Elisa Dawn (Mills) Earle on September 7, 1963. They were happily married for 53 years. Douglas had a passion for learning and education. He graduated from Plainwell High School in 1961. He continued on to Michigan State University and obtained his Bachelor’s degree in Political Science in 1965. After attending MSU Douglas was hooked on Sparty and had green and white in his blood. Douglas and Dawn then moved to Washington D.C. where Douglas accepted a full ride scholarship to George Washington University Law School, graduating in 1968. After working for a few years for the Federal Government in the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) program, Douglas was offered a job opportunity to start the Michigan OSHA (MIOSHA). Douglas worked for the State of Michigan for 28 years, most of those years serving as Director of MIOSHA. Douglas enjoyed many wonderful summers at the family cottage on Gun Lake. After retiring Douglas and Dawn loved to travel and took several vacations to the Panama Canal, Alaska, Oregon, Mexico and went on several cruises. He enjoyed spending time with family and especially his four granddaughters. Douglas was actively involved in many volunteer organizations such as the Lions Club, Sierra Club, the Democratic National Party and Mankind group. Douglas is survived by his wife, Elisa Dawn Earle, his son Eric (Doreen) Earle, and daughter Koren (Trent) Carpenter; his four granddaughters Josie and Kate Earle and Kayla and Marisa Carpenter. Douglas was preceded in death by his father, Roger (“Dusty”) Earle, mother, Cora (Elferink), and step-father, William Johnson. Funeral visitation will be held at the Gorsline Runciman Funeral Homes, 205 E. Washington St., DeWitt, MI on July 12, 2017 from 5:00-8:00 p.m. On Thursday, July 13, 2017, a second visitation will be held from 12:00 - 1:00 pm, funeral service at 1:00 pm followed by a graveside service at 2:00 pm. Douglas’ first cousin, Rich Koster, will be officiating the service. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be given in Douglas Earle’s name to WKAR, Michigan State University, Communication Arts & Sciences Bldg., 404 Wilson Road Room 212, East Lansing MI 48824-1212. Condolences and memories may be shared with the family at www.grdewitt.com.

Shared Eulogy from Hap Frizzell and John Doster 071317

My name is John Doster and I was lucky to be one of Doug’s classmates from early elementary throughout high school. Most of you have known Doug as an adult. It’s my job to share some facts about him as a youngster. To begin: early on he called himself; Douglas Roger Oscar Emmons Peabody Tickle Britches Earle. He loved to say it real fast because he knew we couldn’t? I never knew where he got all those names. His secret, I presume. Doug grew up in the small town of Plainwell. He lost his father to World War II. His mother Cora and Step Father Bill Johnson were charged with the responsibility of nurturing him through those years. And what a terrific job they did.

When I sent notice to our classmates of Doug’s Passing, I reminded them of some of his accomplishments. It was an example of Doug’s strong leadership qualities surfacing at such a young age. I mentioned in 2nd grade Doug was elected president of his homeroom. For purposes of this example I must mention I was also elected President of my homeroom. 3rd , 4th and 5th grade: same scenario. Then in 6th grade the wheels came off my wagon; we ended up in the same homeroom. Officer elections came around and Doug was again elected president. I was relegated to Vice President. That same year Doug was appointed Captain of the Safety Patrol. I was appointed Lieutenant.

Throughout Jr High and High School we no longer had homerooms and Doug continued his dominance as Class President. Me: Vice President. Our senior year Doug withdrew his name as a nominee for President to provide opportunity to others. I followed suit.

Spring of our Sophomore Year brought on Student Council Elections. Wow --- a school wide election….and we were running as Juniors. Now that’s big stuff. Our class put up a slate of officers headed by the one and only Doug Earle. Bring on the competition!!! …….. Word of caution, we were well aware that President and Vice President traditionally went to the Senior Class. But that didn’t stop us!!! We burned midnight oil on signs and pushed hard for the Freshman Class Vote.

Results were in….and our new President of the Student Body of Plainwell High School is……….. Douglas Earle. YES!!! Me…Vice President.

After the final returns were in our Principal, Mr Cutler, called me into his office. He was the only person that knew the final vote counts of the election. He made me swear to secrecy before sharing this sensitive data. He told me the vote counts were the most one sided he had ever experienced while principal at Plainwell.

I now need to swear all of you to secrecy, because I am going to share those results. Doug’s opponent had garnered only 67 votes. Somewhat impressive given the Senior Class had a head count of 94.

I tell this story for three reasons: First it demonstrates Doug’s incredible popularity among his peers, secondly it demonstrates Doug’s Leadership Quality at a very young age; and third it sets the stage for how Doug became a peer role model for me.

By 4th grade it was apparent Doug could run faster, throw harder, jump higher than any of the rest of us. Some people today want to “be like Mike”....back then I wanted to “be like Doug”.

In 5th grade our elementary basketball team played during half time of the varsity game on a special occasion. The Plainwell Enterprise, our local newspaper, in the subsequent issue ran a picture of OUR game. There we were; Doug and I, bigger than life. Doug, in his green shorts, dribbling with his head up, facing down court

anticipating his next move; and me in my cut off blue jeans trying to guard him. My mouth wide open yelling and my fly wide open as well. This picture said it all.

No story of our high school days would be complete without mentioning the relationship between the students at Plainwell and our arch rival Otsego, the small town of equal size 3 miles down the road. Dawn knows this town well. Friday Night dances at The Scout House in Otsego and Saturday Night Dances at the KP Hall in Plainwell. Had it not been for the fierce rivalry in sports the two schools were more like one. Doug and I would contact the Student Council Officers at Otsego to be certain both school’s Homecoming, Winter Formal and Prom Dates did not conflict. This for obvious reasons.

We always claimed the Otsego Guys stole our cute girls. However we had a secret weapon of our own. When Doug went west to Otsego he came back with the biggest prize of all. He won ….a Dawn !!! I rest my case.

Another of our classmates wrote the following piece I would like to interject at this time.

Hap Frizzell

A Eulogy for a friend, class mate and leader

If I was to choose a word that characterized Doug Earle it would be “Leadership”. Such a word may not capture the deeper sentiments that represent the grief of the passing of life of a friend or family loved one. But Doug’s life was gifted with this attribute. When I received notice from John that Doug had passed, he mentioned the legacy of leadership we all remember of Doug since elementary school through graduation. This also carried over into his law studies and law profession.

We reconnected just prior to our 50 year class reunion. About 4 years ago Doug and I agreed to meet on a more regular basis. We did this under the auspices we were getting older and better capture the years of relationship we still had. So we did. In those meetings, over a bite to eat, we were able to retrace our experiences of aging and were able to find an intimacy of relationship we had not had in our youth. No doubt the term intimacy was not available to us “in our youth”. Aging seems to provide a depth of reflection that youth does not.

As we met and talked many qualities of Doug’s Character spoke “Leadership”. As a youngster, Doug was a marvelous athlete. In our youth such things seem to project personal appeal ahead of others. Doug was also an outstanding student academically. This quality of leadership might be defined as a function of ambition or an attribute of character. I believe it was both for Doug. His early appeal to his peers surely played a role in his desire to be a leader. Doug was gifted in that reality. I have come to know, in the work of my own profession, Doug was blessed with the capacity to look at his world with the ability to see, at a glance, the proper function of “order, sequence and efficiency” moving from “point A” to “point Z”. These speak to his mental capability. The profession of law, if nothing else, is the capacity to see the role of order. The accepted sequence of how this order is to operate for the benefit of the whole, Doug could also see.

For Doug, the sense of efficiency was wedded to a kind of “good will” that I am sure his mother Cora influenced. Doug then was well suited to the practice of law and its move toward politics.

Any of us who are honest in the progressing of our aging will be able to admit in the intimacy of relationships our disappointments, our “wish I could do that over again,” and what I would do differently.” One of the leadership hardships Doug shared with me was; when he had to face the fact; his desire to enter politics and make a run for the governorship, was not going to work. He called it a disappointment that struck deeply. However, the flame of politics never left Doug for which you all would attest. His democratic fervor always

came to the table of our discussions. But this is what I liked most about Doug and the leadership of character he possessed.

He told me about the group of men called ManKind with whom he met to discuss how to deal with some of the disappointments we all have to face. As a practicing therapist, I know such disappointments strike all of us at some point. Doug would tell me of how these meetings would intimately engage the substance of each of these men’s lives and provide a restoring, uplifting and embracing element to the relationship of confidence. There were moments at our table wherein we would both tear-up, in the depth of feeling that rises, when grown men confess their vulnerabilities to each other. This is a quality of maturity often missing but significantly liberating.

So when I read John’s notice, I felt sucker punched. It was just two days prior I had realized it was time to call Doug and get our next meeting arranged. I regret this loss. And know those who have loved and cared for Doug, his family and Dawn, will live with a sorrow not easily healed. I trust blessing’s providence will embrace each with kindness and warmth.

Back to John Doster

Although I have many stories to tell of Doug’s Youth, time simply won’t allow. Playing with his abundant collection of toy soldiers; regular wrestling matches in his side yard; Physics Projects; juggling and pink athletic supporters. Please don’t get me started or we’ll be here all day.

I now want to continue on a slightly different course. Cora (Elferink) Earle Johnson.

Doug’s Mom, Cora was an incredible lady. She gave so much to Doug by giving so much to others. She and I both worked at the local bank while I was in college. During second semester my junior year Cora knew something was bothering me. I was short money to cover tuition. Cora quickly insisted on handling my shortfall. I accepted and paid her back over time. From that day forward she always made sure I had enough money to complete my education. To most this would not have been necessary but to Cora it was essential.

Her actions changed my self-perception. She had single handedly made me part of her family and elevated my status to something closer to that of Doug. I wonder if she ever knew the impact of that action.

The legacy Cora left Doug was embedded deep within his total being. Legacy has nothing to do with money or assets. It has to do with; the memories we leave; the relationships we developed, and the impact both had on others. This room is filled with Doug’s Legacy. The most important are sitting right here in the front. You are charged with creating your own legacy….influenced by the character of your Dad or Grandpa.

With that….. I would like to say: Douglas Roger Oscar Emmons Peabody Tickle Britches Earle….I will miss you, my old friend.