Douglas Barry Phillips
April 30, 1957 - October 13, 2017
It is with sad hearts that we inform the community that Doug passed away in Mazatlan, Mexico.
Doug had been diagnosed with advanced esophageal cancer in the spring of 2017, and fought a hard battle but after months of chemotherapy and surgeries his heart failed.
Doug was born in Vancouver to parents Peggy and Barry Phillips. They moved to Grand Forks when he was 7 months old where he attended elementary school and secondary school.
He was a strong athlete, student, and talented pianist. Doug was known as Red to his buddies. His first work experiences included working for his dad at Acres Drug Store and later for the Forestry on wildfires with suppression crews during the summers. He attended 1st year university at UBC and then moved on to trucking and managing a restaurant/bar but returned to the woods in the logging industry. Doug became a faller on the west coast of B.C. and managed his own company of fallers until an accident in 1986 at which time he became quadriplegic. Doug spent the following year in GF Strong Rehab then moved to an apartment in Vancouver. He later moved to Kelowna and then back to Grand Forks as an ostrich farmer and then a raspberry farmer.
After exploring traveling Doug discovered the joy of Mexico, where he could travel for miles in his wheelchair during cold Canadian winters. Mazatlan became his second home so he had summer all year long. Doug enjoyed fishing, hunting and sharing time with a large circle of close friends.
He is survived by his Mom (Peggy), brother David (Marj), sister Monica (Jeff), and nephews James, Robb, Lex, Kayden and niece Jenna and extended family, Aaron & Shane.
Gatherings to celebrate Doug's life will be held in Mazatlan and Grand Forks in 2018. Dates to be shared at a later time.