In Loving Memory: Samuel Whittaker Douglass

RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA, CA — Samuel Whittaker Douglass passed away peacefully on October 18, 2017. He was born January 2, 1931 in Paris, Arkansas to his parents, Margaret Cravens Brooks Douglass and Sam Douglass. He died in his home in Coto De Caza with his wife, children and grandchildren surrounding him. In between these two dates was a life lived to the fullest.

Sam Douglass graduated from USC in 1958 and was an active member of Kappa Sigma Fraternity. He married Jacquelyn Fisher, his sweetheart, after graduation and worked for his folks at the El Segundo Douglass Family Mortuary. He later became President and bought five more mortuaries, helping families in the El Segundo, Paramount, Hawthorne, Lynwood and Southgate areas and beyond. In fact, he helped the families all around the world when he was asked to handle arrangements for those that tragically died in 56 different airline accidents. He mourned each loved one as if they were his own with incredible compassion and kindness.

He was actively engaged with the community, his friends and his family. He believed in service to others which included President of the Hawthorne Community Hospital, Chairman of the Robert F Kennedy Medical Center Foundation, President of Los Angeles County Funeral Directors Association, Chairman of 20th Century Round Table, President of El Segundo Kiwanis Club and the President of the South Bay Trojan Club. He was a founding member of El Segundo First National Bank (now Citizens Business Bank), served on the board of directors of the El Segundo Education Foundation and was even the El Segundo Little League Baseball Commissioner. He was appointed to the Los Angeles Mayor's Emergency Committee. He served on the board of the Centinela Valley YMCA and was also a member of Round Table of Orange County, El Segundo Chamber of Commerce, Ferrari Owners Club, and the Southwest Region of the Ferrari Club of America.

Sam loved his family, friends and fun. He went on annual fishing trips to Mexico with his brothers from Kappa Sigma. He took his family on many fishing trips on his beloved boat, "The Happy Hooker." He loved to fish and duck hunt. He golfed with his fraternity brothers every week up until he passed. He snow skied. He raced cars, including his own three Ferraris. Fun traditions were something very important to Sam which included the Long Beach Grand Prix, where he attended every year since it's inception in 1973. The biggest tradition that he held was for USC Football. He attended every home game with his entire family as it grew to three generations. He made numerous trips to San Francisco, South Bend and across the country to see the Trojans play. He hosted the ever popular, Douglass Trojan Tailgate party for family and friends in the same location for over 30 years. Perhaps the most cherished tradition was family Christmas Eve dinner after church at either Lawry's and later, The Five Crowns with his clan.

He was married to his wife of 59 years, Jacquelyn Fisher Douglass, lovingly known as Jacque. Together they had four children: Heather Douglass Keller, Brooks Douglass, Erin Douglass King and Sean Douglass. His children brought him nine grandchildren, Alyson, Preston, Chase, Brennan, Cameron, Braden, Paige and Spencer. He loved and supported each, no matter what their passion. He attended virtually every game, production, ceremony and family event. Samuel Douglass was a funny, witty, kind and loving man that positively touched everyone he met. He is loved deeply by his family who all consider him their hero and inspiration. We will miss him greatly.

In lieu of flowers the family is asking for donations in the name of Sam Douglass to Mission Hospital Foundation. www.mission4health.com/donate, or they can mail in their gifts in Memory of Sam Douglass to: Mission Hospital Foundation, 27700 Medical Center Road, Mission Viejo, CA 92691.

Photo, courtesy Heather Douglass