William B. Douglas, 64, known to friends and family as Billy Burr, died on Wednesday, April 26, 2017, at Tacoma General Hospital with family by his side. Bill, a lifetime resident of Grays Harbor, was born on June 8, 1952, in Aberdeen, Wash., to William R. and Margery (Vance) Douglas.

Bill attended Hoquiam schools and graduated from Hoquiam High School in 1970 and later served in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War. Following his discharged in 1974, Bill attended Grays Harbor College where he obtained his degree in diesel mechanics and began working for Rayonier, and was last employed by SSA Marine.

In 1977, Bill married Emily A. Frost in Aberdeen, Wash. and they welcomed son, James B. Douglas in 1980. He had many interests and was dedicated to his family and community. Bill often reminisced fondly about his time coaching little league with Rick Parker and his days playing slow pitch. He loved to hunt and fish and was involved in various Aberdeen school’s activities, including the AHS Band Booster Club. Additionally, he volunteered with the Seventh Street Kids and participated in the Cancer Walk Relay. Bill was a regular at the longshoreman’s salmon derby where he enjoyed seeing old friends and sampling Marilyn Peters’ blackberry cobbler.

Bill was preceded in death by, father William R. Douglas (1990), brother-in-law. William M. Newman (1990) and wife, Emily A. Douglas (2010).

Survivors include his son and daughter-in-law, James and Nicole Douglas of Snoqualmie; mother, Margery Douglas of Hoquiam; sisters, Cookie Newman of Hoquiam and Marlene Boisvert of Olympia; grandchildren,, Kathrynn, Isabella and William of Snoqualmie; nephews Billy Newman, Jeff Newman and Kris Dunn of Hoquiam; niece, Kendra Stevens of Olympia; great-nephews and nieces, Walker, Reylynn and Karsen Dunn of Hoquiam and Kallan Stevens of Olympia.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, May 20, 2017, at 1 p.m. at the Coleman Chapel in Hoquiam, Wash. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Hoquiam Food Bank, Feed the Hungry in care of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Aberdeen or Tree House, 402 I Street, Tacoma, WA 98405.

Cremation arrangements are by the Coleman Mortuary in Hoquiam.

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