Douglas Allen Devitt

Age 89, made his transition in his home surrounded by family Saturday, November 26, 2016, and we thank all the kind helpful people with Mercy Hospice for making it possible for him to be right where he wanted to be.

He was born in Lisbon, North Dakota, on January 3, 1927, to Conrad Devitt and Carolyn Biesterfeld. His family left their farm in North Dakota, in 1943, and settled in Corvallis, Oregon, where he finished high school and joined the U.S. Marine Corps, serving in the South Pacific at the end of World War II. On his return, he met and married Phyllis Dinsmore of Portland, Oregon, who was attending Oregon State University. They moved to Denver, Colorado, for further schooling where their son, Tim, was born. They returned to Oregon, and passing through Roseburg connected with the Umpqua River and all the beauty of Douglas County, enough to want to make it their home. Roseburg is the place where their daughter, Terri, was born and where he retired as assistant postmaster from the U.S. Postal Service.

He was preceded in death by one sister, Vivian Williams; and three brothers, Roger, Archie and Robert Devitt.

He has one surviving sister, Daryl Lilly of Portland, Oregon; he is also survived by his wife, Phyllis; two children, Tim (Cathi) and Terri Devitt; three grandchildren, Allison Rust (Clint), Emily Murphy (John) Ethan Devitt; and six great-grandchildren, Hunter, Kane, Keaton, Connor, Ava and Mia Grace.

We are thankful to him for buying the farm in 1957, next to Deer Creek in Dixonville, where he worked hard to transform it into not only a beautiful idyllic environment to grow up in, but one that was shared with so many others over the years for fun, celebrations and special occasions that have brought us so many great memories.

We learned a lot from him, especially about the things that matter in this life and our love and gratitude for him will live on forever in our hearts.

A family remembrance and celebration is being planned.