Bye For Now

A few years ago my little brother started calling me almost everyday. It was usually around 1:00 p.m. Dallas time and 11:00 a.m. Seattle time. That was when The Price is Right was over, which was one of his favorite game shows, and mine as well. I think he got a kick out of the fact that I was a contestant on The Price is Right in 2005, and that’s probably why he thought of me when he’d watch it. Harold and I would try to catch The Price is Right as often as we could so we could talk about the show when Dougie called. We’d talk about who won a car, who overbid, when someone won both showcases, or when they both lost! Sometimes when he called I was busy so he’d leave me a voicemail but would still call me back later if I didn’t get right back with him. I have several voicemails saved on my phone from him:

“This is Doug. Bye for now.” 

ALL of his phone messages were pretty much just like this, and they’re really quite special to me now.

Although he was mentally disabled since birth, Dougie believed in Jesus. He had a childlike faith and was “forever young.” He enjoyed going to Sunday School, church, and Vacation Bible School as a child.

“Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 19:14

And, as I mentioned in an earlier blog, in the 1980s he came to me upset one day. He was upset with himself because he had told a lie and knew it was wrong. His lips were quivering and he was near tears. I told him that God knows when we do wrong things and that it was good that he was sorry for what he did. His humility was precious and real. I hugged him and helped him pray out loud, in Jesus’ name, for forgiveness.

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.“ 1 John 1:9

Dougie attended church well into his adulthood with mom until she was no longer able to take him due to her illness.

My mom, dad, older brother Eldon, and Dougie have all passed away now; their souls are safe at home with Jesus. I look forward to seeing them one day in heaven and praise God for His perfect plan of salvation for all who will repent and believe in Him.

“So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.” 2 Corinthians 5:6-8

Because, 

“Jesus said, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?‘” John 11:25

The Bible has a lot to say about the promise of the resurrection. 

“I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you… that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.” 1 Corinthians 15:1-4

“Christ has indeed been raised, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.” 1 Corinthians 15:20-22

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” 1 Peter 1:3

Our resurrected bodies will be spiritual, imperishable, and raised in glory and power. Resurrected bodies will never experience sickness, decay, deterioration, or death.

The last couple of times I saw Dougie was in May and June 2024.

Harold and I visited Dougie and my niece, Debbie, in May 2024 on our way to an Alaskan cruise to celebrate Harold’s 76th birthday. We had lunch together at a downtown Burien, Washington restaurant, and then we took Dougie to Angle Lake Park later that day and sat and watched the children play. He enjoyed watching them run around the water spray, having fun, and hearing them laugh.

My niece was Dougie’s caregiver for 28 years and I believe he was very happy with the life and the home that Debbie provided for him. He had a wonderful, happy disposition! I also believe it was part of God’s plan for my niece to be his caregiver. She grew up loving him as her uncle and ended up loving him like a son. He was a special blessing to everyone in our family and to the many who knew and loved him.

Harold and I returned to Seattle after the cruise on June 4, and visited with Dougie in downtown Burien. I gave him a warm beanie from Alaska in anticipation of the cold weather this coming winter, not knowing at the time that Dougie would not be going through another Seattle winter; not knowing that this would be our last day together this side of heaven.

I last talked to him on the phone on Monday, November 18, the anniversary date of our dad’s passing. Dougie passed away the next day, Tuesday November 19, 2024. No autopsy was done but according to the doctor, he passed away approximately 10:00 a.m. likely due to a sudden heart attack.

My little brother, mentally disabled since birth, was actually very wise. He left me several phone messages reminding me that our parting is only temporary and that we will see each other one day in the future:

“This is Doug. Bye for now.”

I believe this because of what Jesus did on the cross on our behalf and because we believe in Him.