Douglas Macgregor Harlan September 15, 1937 - October 27, 2024

On October 27, 2024, Douglas Macgregor Harlan returned to his heavenly home after a three-month battle with a glioblastoma brain tumor. He died while holding the hands of his two children with their spouses by their sides. Doug was 87.
Doug was born on September 15, 1937, in Amarillo, Texas. He was the fourth of eleven siblings born to Earnest and Emma Harlan. Because his father had a traveling photography business, Doug spent his early years in several towns across Texas. His family later moved to Kitsap County, Washington, when he was 13. Doug was an energetic and active child with a bit of a stubborn streak.
Doug attended Kitsap High School and graduated in 1956. He was captain of the football team, participated in student council, and was a good student. After graduation, Doug attended Olympic and Everett junior colleges. He was passionate about music and sang and played guitar in a combo. Doug especially liked listening to Buddy Holly and, later, Kris Kristofferson.
Doug met the love of his life, Carol Lynn Peterson, at a drive-in restaurant in Poulsbo in 1961. He was starstruck by a certain carhop at Gregg’s Drive-In who had a dazzling smile and he promptly asked her out. They were married on March 13, 1962. Doug became a father later that year when his son David was born.
Doug was drafted into the Air Force and, after training in Texas, was stationed in the Philippines from 1962 to 1965, accompanied by Dave and Carol. After his service, they moved to Puyallup, Washington, where Doug worked for a modular homemaker. Doug and Carol welcomed their daughter, Deborah, on May 26, 1969.
Three years later, tragedy struck the family in June of 1972 when Carol died in a car accident, leaving Doug to raise Dave and Debbie on his own. Doug flipped houses in order to stay home and focus on his children. He never remarried.
Doug stayed near his children by moving first to Fairbanks, Alaska, in 1996 to be near Debbie and her family. He worked for Social Security in Alaska until he retired in 2002. He then moved to Mapleton, Utah, to be near Dave and his family.
Doug had a good sense of humor and loved playing and watching golf. He read books and listened to old radio programs on tape that reminded him of his youth. He was quick to laugh and sang silly kid songs to his grandchildren, who, in turn, loved his toast and split pea soup. At his request, they called him “Rouger” and “Douger” instead of “Grandpa” because that title made him feel old. Doug loved dogs, especially golden retrievers, and they loved him.
Doug is preceded in death by his wife Carol, his parents, his sisters Sandy and Patsy, and his grandson Neal Harlan. He is survived by his two children, David (Katrina) Harlan of Salem, Utah, and Deborah (Bret) Cook, also of Salem, and his 12 grandchildren and 13 greatgrandchildren.
He will be greatly missed and will always hold a place in our hearts. Doug will be laid to rest at Evergreen Cemetery in Springville. The family invites all to join them in remembering his life in a memorial service on Saturday, November 9, 2024 at 10:30 a.m. at the Eagle Rock building, 825 Hawks Rest Drive, Mapleton, Utah. A visitation will be held before the service from 9:30 to 10:15 a.m.