Friday, April 26, 2024
Long time Chelan resident Doug Clearwaters passed away peacefully on the birthday of his wife (Shirley) of 62 years on January 19, 2020, at Colonial Vista. He was born August 21, 1934, to Jesse and Melvin Clearwaters in Anaconda, Montana. He was raised in the Wenatchee-Chelan valley attending school from Manson, Chelan, Entiat, and graduated from Wenatchee in 1953. He joined the Army in 1953 and served in Stansted, England, worked as a construction machine operator, and received the National Defense Service Medal and Good Conduct Medal. He met Shirley (Slack) in high school in Wenatchee, and they were married at the Wenatchee Methodist Church on September 21, 1955. They attended Washington State University where Doug studied horticulture and returned to the Chelan valley to begin co-ownership of an apple orchard. Doug and Shirley went on to establish Clearwaters Excavating for over 25 years and plant two pear orchards. Doug received a Second Place Bartlett pear award in 1998 from Trout-Blue Chelan.
They raised three daughters and participated in many outdoor activities such as water skiing, snow skiing, motorcycling and snowmobiling.
Doug was very community minded and served 16 years (January 1977 to December 1993) as a commissioner for Chelan County Fire District No. 7. He helped to build the new Chelan Fire Hall in 1993 and to purchase new equipment to keep the department current. He served with dedication for 20 years as a Chelan County Civil Service Commissioner from 1991 to 2011. He was a founding member of the Lake Chelan Snowmobile Club serving as president and helped establish the groomer program. He also volunteered on the Chelan Marine Patrol as a lieutenant.
Doug grew up with a strong passion for flying. He had his license for flying before his driver’s license. He and friends built an experimental gyrocopter.
His wife Shirley passed January 11, 2018.
He is survived by three daughters; Karen (Bob) Robelia, Corinne (Dave) Berg; and Colleen (Jon) Huffman and their families, and sister Bonnie Tebaldi and her family.
The family would like to thank Confluence Health Home Care and Hospice services and all caregivers for their care of our father. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Lake Chelan Snowmobile Club, P.O. Box 1155, Chelan, WA 98816.
The family will hold graveside services and a Celebration of Life in May with announcements to follow.
