How do you sum up a person's life. 92 years doesn’t fit on a page.
Jeffrey Walter Doughty born the year of the Great Depression 1929 in Burley, Leeds, England. Life wasn’t easy. He must have terrified his mum and dad by disappearing at 15 years, first to try and join the British Army but refused, due to his youth, so instead joining the Merchant Marines and sailing off to places that are no longer on a map. My dad was a adventurer. My husband said he was cut from a different cloth, a romantic adventurer in the true sense. He did more things by the age of 25 than most will do in a lifetime.
His love of Biggles the First World War stories of an ace pilot perhaps, is what got him started. I don’t know, but whatever it was, there were very few places in this world that he had not visited nor few things he had not done. He wanted to be a pilot but alas he couldn’t as he reached the age of consent to train for the war, at wars end.
It didn’t stop him from serving his country though. He did a stint in India, in the North, near the end of the British influence (unlike most Brits, he could never abide curry) and then received a medal for his time as a soldier at the Suez Canal during those rough times.
As a Merchant Marine he crossed every ocean numerous times. Was declared lost at sea off the coast of South America during a particularly severe hurricane and was on the ships Bridge as his ship sank in Belfast Harbour. He was in Russia as it closed down, saw Nagasaki first hand after the bomb and travelled to the darkest parts of Africa. So many stories, so little space.
As I grew and became more aware and came to understand the world, I would often ask, dad, ‘have you been here, have you been there’? - Always yes. It was really hard to stump him.
He was passionate in so many ways but kept most of this life and stories to himself.
Most knew and referred to him as an absolute Gentleman. Kind loving and someone that I loved, oh so dearly. I was so lucky as I know he adored me.
He loved motorbikes, cars, dogs and boats but most of all he loved my mum. That relationship was passionate til the end. Topsey-Turvey but, oh so passionate.
They met on a ship in 1954, my dad immigrating to Canada my mum coming on holiday. After only a few days together at sea they asked the Captain to marry them, but he refused stating, ‘they needed more time’. Well Sixty-six years later- here they are.
He shared his love of travel with my mum, worked in the airline business most of his life, opening up markets around the world. Never got his pilot licence but inspired me to do so. He was so proud I did.
My mum and he travelled everywhere, and even near the end when he could no longer manager his own boat, nor give my mum breakfast in bed most mornings, he and my mum cruised the seven seas more sedately on cruise liners. They were planning their next adventure, after Covid, when he died.
He wasn’t a religious man, but he was a soulful man, to honour him we will share his ashes with the sea, on his beloved Anna Marie Island, in Florida.
My Dad- a life well lived a man of few words, quiet, a little shy and unassuming but larger than life to me.
You will be missed.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18