James Douglas Pifer, 57, peacefully passed away in his sleep after a long battle with diabetes and heart disease, on March 16, 2020. If there’s one thing we can all take from Doug, it’s that life isn’t promised, but should be treasured and enjoyed to the fullest. He outlived his probable date because he always strived to be there for his loved ones and he was stubborn to his core. He never met a stranger and could usually be found sipping on a cold beer in the garage with country music blaring and his dog by his side.
If I can capture Doug in only a few words it would be based on his heart and humor. We will always remember him because he never let you get off the phone. Anyone who knew him will beg for those conversations just one more time. Not only did his laughter fill your heart, but his southern, honest accent will forever live in your memory. He loved many things and people, but his favorites included his mother Anne, his daughter Jessi, his dog Tazz, Nascar, his blue Chevy, and shooting guns.
Doug was born in Punta Gorda, Florida on January 1, 1963. He was raised by his grandparents John T. and Velma Rose and his mother Anne Pifer. He also had lifelong support from his siblings Richard, Mark, Chris, and Melody. With the love that the Roses provided, he grew up wanting a family. He met Darlene when they were 18 and spent thirteen years together in Marietta, Georgia. Although life got in the way of that, he still raised a daughter that he was proud of. When life gave him struggles, he learned to fight to live because he had family and the biggest heart.
He always knew how to make you feel special and loved. As a father his main goal was to teach love, independence, strength, and how to do southern things. As a brother and son, he always did what he could to help and anything he could for a smile. As an uncle, he was always down to go fishing, shooting, or just share a drink and a story...or many.
He was always fashionably late in his blue and green button up, so it’s only appropriate that this pandemic is causing us to do the same. We encourage anyone who knew and loved him to cheers a “cost-friendly” beer in his honor. One of his favorite songs was “Always on my mind” by Willie Nelson, so blare it loudly and let him know we’ll miss him. Once we can all get together safely, we will celebrate his life. Whether it be a friendly gathering or a trip out to the woods to let some gun powder fill the air, he will be celebrated. He deserves to know how much we all cherished his life and the light he added to ours.
He is survived by his daughter Jessi, his four siblings Rick, Mark, Chris, and Melody, their mother Anne, who is still fighting her stroke, many loved nieces and nephews, his dogs Tazz and Dixie, and his cat Salem. He luckily gets to be embraced by his grandparents JT and Velma Rose, lifelong family friends Arita and R.B Futch, his beautiful sister-in-law Angela, beloved pets including Brandy and Ginger, his estranged father Richard, and many of his best friends. We can all hear him saying “I don’t have the slightest idear how I got here, but I’m here listening to grandma Velma lecture me about her roses. I also already met Dale Earnhardt. I’ll be just fine”.
I hope you’re forever surrounded with race car sounds, zero yard work, and Tasmanian devils. You’re always on our minds Big Taz and I know you’re up there talking the angels ears off. We’ll see you again one day and you’ll be waiting with blue eyes glowing, laugh billowing, a huge beautiful smile, and a tear-filled bear hug. Until we meet again, thank you for always being unapologetically you.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 11:00 am, Saturday July 18, 2020 at the New Day Church,
20212 Peachland Blvd, Port Charlotte, FL 33954
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