Obituary of Douglas Grigor

Douglas Grigor

1931-2024

Douglas Grigor was born in Nokomis, SK on April 29, 1931, to Fred and Mabel Grigor. He passed away September 30, 2024, at the age of 93. He is lovingly remembered by his wife Alice; son Brian and his stepson James; son Stuart (Misty) and granddaughter Autumn; son Guy and grandson Kody. Doug was predeceased by his parents Fred and Mabel Grigor; In-laws Rudolph and Olga Miller; brother and sister-in-law Don and June Miller; daughter-in-law Carrie Creeman; and special cousin Hazel Chute.

When Doug was one years old, his parents bought a quarter of land just north of where Mabel’s brother Frank Ings lived near Mullingar, SK. They built a log house and soon purchased another quarter. Doug walked, biked, skied, or rode horseback two and one-half miles to Mistertan School until he completed grade eight. Doug learned mechanics at an early age and would use this skill for the entirety of his life, much to the advantage of his friends and neighbours. He grew up helping with the farming and had fond memories of working on the thrashing crews. Eventually Doug bought two quarters of his own. In the fall of 1959, he purchased a garage and house in the hamlet of Mulingar.  Doug and his parents moved to town but continued to farm until the garage kept them busy, then Doug rented out his land, and Fred sold his. Doug and Alice were married on July 17, 1965. The couple made their home in Mullingar, their first son, Brian, was born in August of 1968 and sixteen months later he had a little brother named Stuart to play with. Guy arrived in February of 1976.

Grigor’s Garage in Mullingar was a very busy place. If you wanted a major overhaul on your tractor or combine done, you needed to book it in early. At the end of June Doug liked to be organized enough to take a week of holidays and there needed to be time to go hunting in the fall. As a family there are many fond memories of times spent camping, fishing and having a cozy campfire to gather around. Smoothstone Lake was their favourite lake.

Doug took flying lessons and by March 1981 he had his private pilot’s licence. He made very good use of it. There are many people who went up in the air with him, just to have a look at the world from above. The longest trip his 182 Cessna made was when they flew to Texas in 2001.

Doug decided to close the business in Mullingar in 1978 and became a fuel truck driver for Mayfair Coop. The family moved to the Hamlet of Mayfair in April of 1981. After the Co-Op in Mayfair closed Doug became a driver for Petro-Canada in Rabbit Lake. In April1996 when Doug turned 65, that month he retired. This was when his golden years began. Doug enjoyed helping with aircraft mechanics at Hamlin airport and doing mechanics out of his garage. He liked the fact that now he had time to spend at coffee row in Rabbit Lake and Spiritwood.

It was a hard adjustment for Doug when his physical ability failed him. For six years he was a resident of Spiritwood Idylwild Lodge. We are thankful that he had no pain and had a great long-term memory so he could share memories of his amazing life with those who visited him.

A deep heartfelt thanks to the staff at the Lodge in Spiritwood and the medical staff at the Battlefords Union Hospital. Thank you to everyone for the show of support the family has received since his passing. Celebration of Life was on October 26, 2024, at the Mayfair Hall, Mayfair, SK. Interment will be at a later date in the Mullingar Cemetery

All donations will go to Idylwild Lodge Auxiliary c/o Linda Pauls Box 641 Spiritwood SK. S0M 2M0

Family and friends wishing to send online condolences are welcome to visit http://www.beaulacfuneralhome.com Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Beau “Lac” Funeral Home and Crematorium, R. Mark Muir Funeral Director, Spiritwood, SK (306) 883-3500.