Douglas Hardcastle, longtime Sitka resident, passed away July 24 after a long illness. He was surrounded by many family and friends.
A memorial service will be held 4 p.m. Wednesday, July 27, at the Elks Lodge. A reception will follow.
Douglas Hardcastle
Doug was born in Glendale, Calif., April 4, 1942, and was raised in Walteria, Calif., graduating from South High School in 1960.
Prior to graduation, in the summer of 1959, he came to Alaska and worked for Island Logging, owned by his aunt and uncle, Lowell and Fleta Marsh of Ketchikan. That was when he fell in love with Southeast Alaska.
In 1960, the family moved to Sitka, and Doug worked at Island Logging in DeGroff Bay and Tenakee Springs. During these early years he met and married Susan Peterson. They had one son, Philip Hardcastle.
Doug was close to his sister Glenda who he called “Honey.” He was her hero and they enjoyed an extraordinary sibling relationship.
After his life as a logger, Doug moved south and explored the culinary arts, which he excelled at. In the early 1970s, while commercial salmon trolling with his father Earl out of Sitka, he met and married Gracia McLeod, on Nov. 2, 1973. Doug and Gracia owned and operated a beauty salon and retail store for many years. Doug assisted with the operations there and took a keen interest in the front of the store. He loved art and crafts as well as decorating of home and business for seasonal celebrations.
Doug loved the town of Sitka as well as its residents. He spent many years working with the public and became a beloved presence in Sitka, well liked and loved by many. His job at the local House of Liquor store was always an important priority.
His favorite thing to do was to be on the water in his boat fishing, and roaming the coves and waterways of Southeast Alaska. This love of Alaska’s waterways was given to him by his father Earl. Commercial trolling with Earl and his mother Joan was what filled Doug’s soul. He enjoyed fishing with his buddy and brother-in-law, Shawn McLeod. He would have loved pulling in the big winner in the yearly derby.
Doug was lucky to have been able to travel recently with his family to the Midwest to attend the wedding of one of his grandchildren, Shanna, and her fiancé Josh. While in Nebraska he enjoyed visiting his daughter Marla and her husband Andrew Mohlman as well as grandson Brandon. His son, Phil Hardcastle, his wife Katie, and their children, Drew and Rylee, made a vacation of it and stopped along the way to visit many sights. Doug was also able to visit his other grandchildren Cameran and Tkaus while visiting in the Seattle area.
“We will always remember his gentle ways and helpful presence in town and family gatherings. Being surrounded by a large extended family all the time brought great pleasure to Doug. He worked tirelessly in the background picking-up, cleaning, and preparing things,” his family wrote. “He always had a quiet chuckle. We think it was disbelief at the loud raucous gatherings that dominated most holidays.”
For more than two decades, “Doug valiantly fought multiple battles with cancer and won every one. Unfortunately his last battle was one that was unwinnable – but he fought and lost on his terms. He met these challenges bravely and with great dignity and poise. The family will miss his calm and peaceful nature.”
Douglas was preceded in death by his mother, Joan Johnson.
He is survived by his wife, Gracia Hardcastle; father Earle W. Johnson; sister Glenda Boddy and her children and grandchildren; son Philip Hardcastle and his wife Katie and their four children, Drew, Rylee, Cameran, and Tkaus’ daughter Marla Mohlman, her husband Andrew and their two children, Brandon and Shanna; and adopted daughter Marissa Carson and many other close family members.