SMITH, Douglas Christopher Stewart

April 3, 1959 — August 7, 2026

Doug Smith was born on April 3, 1959, in Kingston, Ontario, and passed away peacefully on August 7, 2026, in Vernon, BC, at the age of 67, surrounded by loved ones, following a valiant battle with cancer and Parkinson’s disease.

Growing up, the Smith family moved around a fair bit as his father furthered his education, from Kingston to Edmonton; Powell River; Quesnel; Salmo; Montreal, QC; Waterville, Maine, USA; and finally, in 1967, at the ripe age of 8, Doug landed with his family in Kelowna, BC.  His early years were full of many family adventures.  Doug graduated from KSS High School in 1977.  During his final high school years, he obtained his private pilot’s license through Sunrise Aviation.  He went on to further his flying while he studied at Trinity Western University in Langly, BC.  He left there when he graduated in 1979 having obtained an Associative Arts Degree with an Aviation Major, his commercial pilot’s license and a number of lifelong friends.

Doug started his flying career at Stewart’s Lodge at Nimpo Lake, BC flying laundry! He continued his northern flying career in the early 1980s at Wollaston Lake, Saskatchewan, with Eagle Air Service. It was here in 1984 that he met and fell in love with a beautiful young woman named Therese.  He moved on to fly in Sechelt, BC with Tyee Airways, married Therese in 1987, and later that year, together they moved “south” to La Ronge, Saskatchewan for Doug to obtain employment with Athabasca Airways. After a few years, he was hired by the competition: La Ronge Aviation.  In 1997, he started his water bombing career in La Ronge with the Saskatchewan Government, and he flew for them until Parkinson’s took his wings and ended his career.  He spent the last 10 years of his life mostly in the Okanagan Valley, where he laboured lovingly building himself a home with a ‘kickass’ garage.

Doug was mechanically inclined and also loved to build things out of wood.  He built beautiful furniture.  Doug loved the outdoors and was always game for outdoor adventures.  In the winters, he spent many hours and days on his skidoo with friends building trails, exploring the north, and checking trap lines.  When ‘home’ in Kelowna, he rocked the snow skiing at Big White with his family and friends. Summers were spent boating, fishing, waterskiing, scuba diving, hiking, riding his Harley, canoe trips, golfing, and drinking the occasional beer with his buddies.  He always looked forward to hunting season in the fall. Doug loved listening to music and had the greatest sound system and CD collection! No matter the season, he loved spending time reading his Bible and communing with his Lord out in nature.

Doug had a very strong faith in God and was a man of great integrity.  He was a true and faithful friend and the best brother a man could ask for! Doug was loving, kind, caring, honest, generous, always ready to lend a hand for anyone who needed help, and ‘positive no matter what’. Doug loved his children and grandchildren greatly.  Above all, Doug loved his creator God.  Doug’s family and friends will miss him dearly.  Another beautiful soul gone too soon!  Rest easy and fly high, Doug!

He is survived by his two daughters and their children: Alanah Smith with Greyson, Amber, and Arnold, and Tasha Smith with Austin, Drayden, and Mia; former spouse, Therese Smith; brother Bruce (Eileen) Smith and sister Brenda (Jim) Loyd; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces, extended family, and treasured friends.

He was predeceased by his brother Kevin; his son Austin; his mother Barbara; his father Robert; and his sister Barb.

Memorial donations in Douglas’s memory may be sent to Creation Ministries.

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