Neil Douglas (Doug) Smith passed away at home on Saturday, August 17, 2024. Born September 24, 1939. He was adopted three months later by his loving parents, Floyd and Clara Smith of Utica NY. He completed his early education in Utica and his college years at U. of Miami in Florida. He excelled in anything relating to math and greatly enjoyed being consistently assigned or asked to tutor fellow students.

Doug's summers were spent at their family camp on the Black River, in New York with his parents and adopted younger brother Michael, where he fished and learned to hunt with his father. It was here, at about 7 years old, that he began his lifelong love of golf which he continued to enjoy, (most of the time) early into his 80+ years. It was also where he began his business ventures, spending hours and days retrieving, cleaning, and then selling golf balls at the local golf courses.

Doug married Karen Ann Mullen in 1960, in Whitesburro, NY, his first wife and mother of his two children. They spent the next several years in a variety of NY areas, depending on where his work and assignments in the insurance Claims field sent him.

In the 1970's he was hired by Safeco Insurance company in New Jersey, NY, and was placed in the Surety branch of the company. He worked in the commercial surety claims department for the next 20 years until he retired from Safeco. He spent several years covering a variety of claims on the East Coast until he was transferred to the LA Safeco division where he took over the regional responsibility of surety claims for the West Coast, which took him from Alaska to Hawaii, and all states in between. He loved his job and the challenges of figuring out the many different aspects and possible solutions of each different claim. His job also gave him great independence and the opportunity to travel and experience many different areas of the West Coast.

Doug married Susan Shea of Spokane, WA, in 1982. Upon retiring from Safeco, a year or two later, they moved to Spokane to pursue Susan's dream of developing Harvard Park Children's Learning Centers. Harvard Park Children's Centers was awarded the Spokane Chamber of Commerce Agora award for the small business category during one of those early years. Doug had named himself (appropriately) CFO of our corporation but periodically was handed a mop to clean floors, an apron and dish scrub brush for dishwashing duties, and the keys to the van to make the runs for our school vanning program. 20 years were spent in this endeavor with amazing friendships with our staff, and most of all, the hundreds of families and children that we had the blessing of being a part of their early growth, learning, and care during those years in their lives. After retiring from HPCLC, Doug has enjoyed hiking and exploring the back forty of our Sagewood property, trimming and cutting down numerous trees, and planting and caring for our roses and flowers. He loved going for a "day car ride" ending up in a variety of neighboring states and Canadian provinces, looking for a place to stay the night. Shea family skiing trips and time spent in Mexico, couples golfing weekends were also cherished memories. His favorite times have been our winter weeks and months spent traveling to Hawaii, Tahiti, and Ireland, which were magical. Doug's golfing days, chess games, and friends have been a core of his life for years, including his time with friends in the nineteenth hole, kibbitzing, playing chess, four, five, six, or just hanging out.

He loved his time with his granddaughters and great-granddaughter, and trips to Nantucket to spend time with his parents and son, Karl. There are many Dougie stories and memories wrapped up in all of these friends and times of his life. His sense of humor, strong determination, laughter, competitiveness, faithfulness, friendship, quick wit, stubbornness, twinkly eyes, commitment, and more, tell of a life well lived.

Doug is survived by his wife, Susan; his brother, Michael; daughter, Gretchen; son, Karl, (Christine) and their mother, Karen Kienle Harries; granddaughters, Christine Bozo (Chris), and Ashley Yamaura; grandson, Justin Smith, (mother, Patty); and great-granddaughter, Scarlett Bozo; in-laws, Micky Shannon, David Shea (Linda), Garry Shea (Lorna); and numerous Shea nieces and nephews and their children. He was preceded in death by his parents, Floyd and Clara Smith.

Doug has requested that no memorial religious service be held for him. His family will have a private gathering for him shortly.

Special mention, gratitude, and thankfulness needs to be mentioned for the medical Doctors and staffs that took care of and ministered to both Doug and Susan during these four + years of their journey. Dr Keith Wilkens, MD (Kaiser, now retired), Tyler Baker, MD (Providence Primary Care), Brian Anderson, DO, (Pulmonary and Critical Care, Providence Medical Group), Brent McGinty MD, and Lisa Shawen, PA, (Providence Oncology and Hematology).

The co-teams of the day-to-day care and support of Doug and Susan, walking this end-of-life journey, have been as important as the medical physicians and their staff. Despite Doug's strong opposition to any support or help of any kind, Tosha Beach, owner of Dementia Care Solutions, (dementiacares14@gmail.com), and Shelly Russell, Georgie Paige, and Khirra Hancock from Hospice of Spokane (www.hospiceofspokane.org) recognized, and accepted the exact spot Doug was in, with respect, a sense of humor and calm directness that always put him at ease and a feeling that he was being heard, supported, and in some control of his process. Doug had a special respect and care for Tracie Swanson, Executive Director of Our Place Community Outreach, (office@ourplacespokane.ora) who continues to be another amazing minister in our West Central and extended communities in the larger Spokane area, exhibiting the above qualities of very personable respect, care, and support for persons going through difficult times on their life journey.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a gift of a donation in Doug's name in support of one of the above organizations for the amazing care and peace they bring to people going through the many challenges of their life journey.