(75) – of BEDFORD, passed away after an admirable fight with cancer on Friday, September 23rd, 2011, in Palliative Care at the QEII - Centennial Building.
Born and raised in Barney’s River Station, Pictou Co., NS, he was the son of the late Alexander Joseph and Mary Christina (MacDonald) WILLIAMS.
Doug’s entrepreneurial spirit was fueled at an early age by his family’s lumber business – Williams Bros. Ltd.
He attended East Pictou Rural High and Acadia University and later moved to Bedford in 1961, where in addition to raising a family, he entered into the construction, recreational vehicle and modular home sales and rental industry. Doug owned and operated Twin City Trailer Sales and R.D. Williams Developments Ltd. until his retirement.
During his 45 years in business, Doug earned many awards and recognitions: He was the 1990 Canadian Recreational Vehicle Dealer of the year and operated the only Airstream Trailer dealership in Eastern Canada. Doug was also a board member of the national Canadian Standards Association (CSA) and past president of the Halifax Board of Trade.
Doug was passionate about his community and volunteered his time as President of the Bedford Board of Trade, Chaired the Bedford Main Street Program and was a Board Member of the Bedford Waterfront Development Corporation. He was a member of Bedford United Church where he taught Sunday school for several years and was a Life Elder.
Doug had a love for worldwide travel and the wilderness. He was fortune to have traveled most of North America, Europe, UK, Asia and the Caribbean. He grew-up as an avid camper, sports fisherman, hunter and woodsman and, in his spare time, continued to enjoy the social aspect of these activities for his entire life.
As father to three girls, he took particular pleasure in sharing his culinary expertise, life experiences and introducing them to hunting and fishing trips at a young age. Always positive and a wonderful story teller, he treasured sharing his adventures with his girls and six grandchildren, which included stories about his expeditions on Sable Island, his Oak Island treasure hunt and the many Labrador salmon fishing trips with his buddies.
Doug’s first priority was always family, instilling in them a strong work ethic, an appreciation for education and a love of travel. The best memories by family and friends include the many relaxing vacations in St. Lucia, balanced with the ‘working vacations’ in Kejimkujik, Round Lake and Barney’s River Station (not to mention the entertaining slideshows that followed).
Doug was a wealth of knowledge and will also be remembered for his amazing ability to beautifully document daily events and statistical information relevant to his life and family. In his final months he was happy to be re-connected with many of his dearest friends.
He will be sadly missed and fondly remembered as a friend, husband, brother, father and as ‘Papa’, by his wife of 54 years, Joy Mackay Williams, Bedford; his daughters, Lisa Richardson (Neil Martin), Bedford; Lana (Verne) Wood, Calgary; Lindsay (Kevin) Downie, Bedford; his grandchildren: Alix Richardson, Calgary; Lauren Richardson, Bedford; Mathew and Dexter Wood, Calgary; Conor and James Downie, Bedford; also sister, Doris (Art) Chesley, Saint John, NB. Cremation has taken place.
The family will be welcoming friends on Thursday, September 29th, between 5 – 8 pm at 1233 Shore Drive, Bedford. A celebration of his life will be held at the Bedford United Church on Friday, September 30th at 2 pm. Reception to follow in the Church vestibule.
A family burial at Glen Bard Cemetery, James River, Antigonish will be held at a later date. Special thank you to the wonderful and caring staff on floor 5 – Centennial Building.