Kristine Barker (Williams) (1968)

My heart goes out to Doug's family and friends at the loss of this sweet man.  Doug and I sat near each other in several classes because his last name started with an "A" and mine started with a "B."  One of those years, I asked him to be my date for the Co-Ed Dance and he was sweet enough to accept (I was terrified he would say no).  My parents insisted that he come over to meet them before they would give me permission to go to the dance.  I was so embarrassed to have to ask him to do that -- this wasn't a real date.  But, at the appointed time, he drove up and was a true gentleman for the grueling 15-20 minute inquisition.  We had a lovely time on the evening of the dance meeting up with some of his friends and my friends for dinner and then dancing a little at the event.  I was too immature at the time to truly appreciate what he had really done for me.  I was hesitant to go to the Main Street Reunion in 2010, but, when I saw his name on the "Who's Coming! RSVP" list I immediately signed up.  I looked around for him and finally found him -- he hadn't changed!!!!  When I told him who I was, his face lit up with a big, warm smile and he gave me a big hug (he remembered!!!!).  I told him that I finally understood the gift he had given me in accepting my invitation to be my date for the dance all those years ago and going that extra mile to run the gauntlet imposed by the over-protective parents of a classmate he barely knew.  I thanked him from the bottom of my heart and we both got tears in our eyes -- remembering who we were at that time in our lives.  He gave me another big hug and then told me his version of that visit to my house and how intimidating it was to meet my parents and my brothers -- he had me doubled over with laughter.  I am so happy that I got to spend those few minutes at the Reunion with Doug to have that conversation.  I think it was good for both of us.  What a dear, dear soul!!!! 

Glenn Culver (1968)

Sad to hear the news about Dougs passing..I have not seen Doug since High School but when I talked with him at the reunion it was like I had talked to him every day. He had not changed from the happy guy I knew then and the news of his marriage to Julie seemed perfect.  We were all blessed to have know Doug Anderson.

Richard Alberts (1968)

Doug Anderson was like a brother to me. We  lived in the same neighborhood and his mother Katie and father Louie trated me like family, Katie started babysitting me when I was 3 or 4 years old so we definitely had some history. Over the years we always tried to stay in touch. After my wife and I moved back to the mainland in 2008 I found out he was living in Henderson and we were residing in North las Vegas so we got together and caught up from when we had last been in touch. I found out that he had been diagnosed with cancer in 2006 and that he had been through so much that it sounded like a bad country song where you lose everything but through it all he was still the great positive person I had always known. In October of 2010 I was diagnosed with stage 4 squamous carcinoma in the neck,throat and tongue. Doug was one of the first people I called because of his battles with cancer and I'll never forgot what he told me, he said you're not alone you will have a support group including me and told me to call him anytime for anything I needed. I can't tell you how happy I was to hear that Julie came into his life. When you are fighting cancer you need someone strong like your wife and family to keep you focused, I thank God for my wife all the time because I can't imagine going through this without her. I'm currently fighting my 3rd cancer, it's stage 4 lung lining cancer. Just to let you know, I never smoked. Because of our battle with cancer we called each other and updated each other on how we were doing. I was always a little nervous when I called beause I was afraid of what I might hear and vice versa. When I called him to tell him about my latest stage 4 cancer battle, he said ok let me tell you what I'm dealing with and he proceeded to tell me about his cancer which was very rare and was just accepted to a special clinical trial. I just laughed and said you always have to one up me, here I thought I would get the sympathy vote with my cancer but it was not to be, we both laughed and understood all we could do was fight on as long as we could. When Steve Jokela called and told us of Doug's passing it didn't come as a surprise and I know he fought the valiant fight to stay with his family as long as was humanly possible. I have some great pictures of Doug and I when we were kids and may funny stories that I hope to share with his family. I lost a chosen brother but God gained a great Christian.

Stephen Jokela (1968)

“Precious in the sight of the Lord, Is the death of His saints.” Psalms 116:15
Shortly after 11PM on March 8, 2015, my dear friend, Douglas Raymond Anderson, left this world and entered the presence of the Lord God. 
I will never forget him or the last time I saw him, mid-afternoon on March 7, as he was preparing for his journey from this world. As I entered his room, he immediately recognized my voice, turned his head and smiled. Though he was weak, we spoke. I held his hand and we prayed. All too soon, we spoke of not saying goodbye, but rather saying “see you soon.” After sharing a few important last words, Julie walked me to the elevator. I was on my way, knowing that very soon Doug would “slip the surly bonds of earth to touch the face of God.” (Ronald Reagan) “So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. For we walk by faith, not by sight. We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.” (2 Corinthians 5:6-8)
Doug and I were life long, old friends. We experienced countless adventures together, not only did we go to high school together, but we also went to college together. Many mornings we would get up early, go surfing then make the ten minute drive to college, find a parking spot, dry off and get to classes with time to spare. Nearly everyday we met in the Student Center to pool our meager resources to buy lunch. All too often, we would split a twenty-five cent bag of pretzels. Not so bad, the mustard was free, so we had a pretzel and mustard lunch. When both our college units fell below the required twelve (for draft deferment) we actually drove to March Air Force Base to enlist in the Air Force. For what ever reason, that didn’t work out, so neither of us saw Southeast Asia.
Over forty-five years later, Doug and I were talking on the phone. He had me on hold because another friend from high school, Julie Johnson, was on his other line. A number of weeks later, Doug and Julie told me they planned to get married and they wanted me to officiate the wedding ceremony. I quickly said yes and the photo shown here, was taken immediately following the Marriage Ceremony.
One of the most important things I learned about Doug and Julie’s relationship was that it was based on their own personal relationships with Jesus Christ. “if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” (Romans 10:9-10) Together, they built a beautiful life together. Doug would say of Julie that he “always loved her and he always will.”
So, see you soon my friend. It is important to note that this life here is short, no matter how many years we are here. Ultimately, we will all leave leave this planet and these bodies behind. But it is not the end, in Christ “... this mortality will be swallowed up by life!” (2 Corinthians 5:4)

Clifford Mitchell (1968)

Wow.  Sorry to read this about Doug.  Always liked Doug.  Nice Guy all the time I knew him.  Remember some goofy football practices with him  I think during our freshman year.  Sorry for your loss Julie.