Peacefully, in the Arnprior Hospital, surrounded by his loving family, Doug Dixon passed away. Born July 6, l924. Son of the late Irving and Elsie (Jensen) Dixon, New Denmark, N.B. Sisters Dawn (Donnie) Sorensen, New Denmark, and Bev (Don) Manley Wells, Maine, USA. Predeceased by his only brother Philip (Ursula) Dixon, 3 sisters: Wanda (Leonard) Christensen, Jean (Stan) Paynter, and Faye (Bob) Race, Citrus Heights, California.

Doug married Norma Wintonick (Latham) Apr. 5, l969; Norma was the “love of his life”. Step-father to Peter Wintonick (Christine Burt) and Suzanne (Barry) Olsheskie. Loving grandpa to Jason (Karen), James (Shannon), Erin, Matthew Olsheskie and Mira Burt-Wintonick.

Doug was mentor/helper to 23 nieces and nephews in Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, and Maine and California in the U.S.A. A well-traveled, workable life of interests, proud owner of the “Pacific Star” Award of Merit (HMCS Uganda) … this cruiser was the pride of the RCN, being the largest and most powerful ship in the World War II fleet, and the first to circumnavigate the globe, seeing action in the Pacific. Doug spent 58 years as plumber/pipe fitter: he was member of Local 71, and was proud to be their President for 12 years. An ardent accomplished downhill skier (Austria, Innisbrook, St. Anton, etc.), he won the bronze Molstar Medal at Mont-Ste-Marie at age 48.

Fishing, hunting, sailoring were passions with Doug. His oral history project, interviewing many older plumbers, was accepted by then Mayor Jim Watson, at a ceremony at Ottawa’s City Hall. These tapes are now at the Ottawa Archives. Many of his naval and family treasures are at the New Denmark Memorial Museum in New Brunswick. Even getting his hole-in-one at Madawaska Golf was an achievement for him. His own personal memoirs, recently hand-written in 2007 (just published in book form on January 28th, 2008 ) show remarkable sense of duty, an adventurous life, well-lived with astounding recall.

In overcoming earlier cancer, Doug’s later life brought him a multiple series of ailments; nonetheless he continued to live his own A-B-Cs of life: acceptance, bravery and candor. Being blessed with a loving family, helping neighbours and caring members of St. Andrew’s United Church, Fitzroy Harbour brought him such joy. We, who are left, are thankful to have had Doug enrich our own lives in so many directions. So many thanks to the caring staff of the Palliative Care Unit at the Arnprior Hospital, Dr. Michelle McBride, Dr. Paul Enright and all the other numerous affiliated medical professionals who have been angels to this angel.

Doug now rests at Whytes Cemetery, Fitzroy Harbour. In Doug’s memory, expressions of sympathy and memorial donations to St. Andrew’s United Church, Fitzroy Harbour, and the Osteoporosis and Diabetes Societies would be greatly appreciated.