Douglas Stuart Willison

Doug was the son of Clarence Orlando Willison and Anita Claire McLean, and was born in Evanston, Illinois. He was the youngest of three children, and was preceded in death by his sister Eloise Johnson.

Doug earned a degree in Geography from Northwestern University. He then served in the US Air Force from 1950-1953 as a photographer. He served during the Korean Conflict and was stationed in Texas, Colorado, Alaska, and Kansas. His terminal rank was Staff Sergeant.

While stationed in Topeka, Kansas, he met a young Kindergarten teacher in Sunday school, Alice Pittman. That began a relationship that lasted through 63 years of marriage.

Alice and Doug travelled widely throughout the western US, and after their kids were grown throughout the world. Their most memorable trips were to China and the Mediterranean.

Doug spent his early career as a banker, first in Illinois, then in 1964, he and Alice packed up their young family and headed west to the Willamette Valley of Oregon, finally settling in West Linn for the last 53 years. When he finally left banking, he transitioned into a retirement counselor for the Oregon Public Employees Retirement System. Doug supplemented his work with wedding photography and had a custom darkroom in the basement.

Doug was a great believer in service organizations and giving back to his community. He was a recipient of the Legion of Merit from Kiwanis for 35 years of service, including serving as President of the Lake Oswego Kiwanis Club for 1973-74. In addition, Doug shared his love of photography by being a 4-H leader, a merit badge counselor, and submitted winning displays at the Oregon State Fair. Doug was also a member of the Sons of the American Revolution.

Doug always considered himself somewhat of a “gentleman farmer.” He grew all manner of fruits and vegetables, always having plenty of tomatoes, peas, sweet corn, blueberries and apples, peaches and pears. He also experimented over the years with a variety of other crops including Brussel sprouts, cauliflower, peanuts (big failure), kiwi (big success) and hazelnuts. The hazelnut tree was very popular with birds and had to be covered with netting to keep the birds from stripping it bare. This continued until the tree grew too large to enclose.

Doug was predeceased by Alice in 2017. Doug is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Jim and Lynn Willison of Melbourne, Florida, his daughter Nancy, of West Linn, his grandchildren, Daniel Willison of North Augusta, South Carolina and Megan (Matt) Modugno of Brick, New Jersey, and his brother, William Willison of Hendersonville, North Carolina.

A memorial service will be held for Doug at Emmanuel Presbyterian Church, 19200 Willamette Drive, in West Linn at 10 AM on March 25. Interment will be aside Alice at Willamette National Cemetery.