Douglas L. Smurthwaite, 87, of Baker City, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, July 25, 2018. A funeral service will be held on Saturday, August 4, 2018 beginning at 2:00 PM at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Following the funeral service, a procession will lead family and friends to Mt.
Hope Cemetery for Air Force Honors and the vault interment. A reception will be held back at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Multi-Purpose Room after the interment. Doug was born on February 17, 1931 in Baker, Oregon.
He was the son of Jesse and Zina Smurthwaite. He was second to the youngest of eight children and lived the majority of his life in Baker. Doug graduated from Baker High School in 1949.
After attending Brigham Young University, he married his high school sweetheart and the love of his life, Lorna Smith, on June 4, 1951. They were later sealed for all eternity in the Boise, Idaho Temple. Doug and Lorna had three children, a son Steve born in 1953, daughters Pam born in 1955 and Cindy born in 1963.
Doug enlisted in the Air Force where he was first stationed in Great Falls, Montana and was then deployed to the Aleutian Islands. After four years in the Air Force as a diesel mechanic and a member of the Air Rescue Team, Doug returned to Baker. He worked for P.M. McAlister and subsequently purchased Quality Oldsmobile-Cadillac.
He sold his business in 1981 and then worked in sales for Phillips-Long Ford in Baker and Better Buick and Dennis Dillon in Idaho before retiring. Doug loved spending time with his family and friends. He enjoyed camping and fly fishing at Eagle Creek, snowmobiling, waterskiing at our dock on Brownlee Reservoir, bird hunting and playing cards.
Doug was an avid musician and played the saxophone almost his entire life. He started playing in his brother Tom’s band at Clubs at the age of 15. He played in many combos.
His children recall many evenings listening to a jazz combo of drums, piano and saxophone practicing in the kitchen. In 1981, Doug was part of the duo that founded the group of local musicians known as Blue Yesterdays. The band played many events over the years and is still active today.
Doug was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. He is survived by his children, Steve (Nancy) Smurthwaite of Boring, Oregon; Pam (Mark) Lotspeich of Boise, Idaho; and Cindy (Dan) Titus of Kuna, Idaho; grandchildren Kelsey (Brandon) Burkhardt, Chad Smurthwaite, Hilary (Mark) Mourton, Nick Lotspeich, and Taylor Titus; great-grandchildren, Woodrow and Delilah Mourton and numerous nieces and nephews. Doug is survived by his best friend, Edie McKim and her beloved dog Sadie which Doug referred to as “his dog”.
Doug is preceded in death by his beloved wife Lorna of 47 years; his parents Jesse and Zina Smurthwaite, his brothers and sisters, Angela Edvalson, Gordon Smurthwaite, Don Smurthwaite, Bob Smurthwaite, Tom Smurthwaite, Paul Smurthwaite and Margaret Smurthwaite and his beloved grandson Andrew Smurthwaite. The family suggests contributions can be made to the American Cancer Society or a charity of one’s choice.
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