Deb Reber

After reading those remembrances on your blog,
what strikes is how much Doug touched the lives
of everyone he met. My first recollections of Doug
were shortly after my daughter, Lindsay, who
was born in 1982, and how he'd hold her on his
arm --- that massive blacksmith arm - where
her tiny body would stretch from the tips of his
fingers to just about the crook at his elbow. She
grew up calling him "Uncle Dougie" and I guess,
25 years later, I've called him that ever since.

Although I didn't know him when he was a professor
at Drake, I suspect that he continued his "teaching"
while in the blacksmith shop. Seeing the
development of Peola Valley Pottery and Forge take
shape over the years was such a wonderful and
incredible sight to behold. Watching Doug, Lee,
Bonnie & Pam literally transform the property to
what is it today, was such a labor of love that they
probably have no idea just how many lives they
have touched over the years in the process. Doug,
in particular, had such a way with people - to
entertain, to instruct, to educate. His canvas, had
he been a painter, was the hammer, anvil and the
subsequent art he created from those pieces of
metal he forged, from among other things, leaf
springs! A basket-maker at one time, I would
go to PVP&F during the summer months to
participate in, what was affectionately known as,
the "Dog & Pony Shows". I was usually set up in
or just outside of the forge weaving, so I was able
to observe Doug at work. Hearing the sound of his
hammer in the early mornings when I arrived at
the Forge was like a step back in time. To be able
to watch him, was spectacular. Jon, my son, was
very fortunate to have worked as an apprentice
for Doug during some of those summers. Doug
not only instructed him in the art of blacksmithing,
but also taught him life lessons, including the art
of kayaking, that have helped make him the man
he is today. His humor, his laugh, his love of life,
his patience, his incredible wit, his twinkling eyes
and that wonderful smile --- that's what I'll
remember about Doug.

Doug will be sorely missed by all who knew him.
Even those who only visited the store, but had
the opportunity to meet him and watch him work,
I feel sure, came away feeling that they had been
in the presence of someone very special. Doug
was special - very special. He was a unique
character --- but a character, nonetheless. I will
miss him greatly because those times spent with
him, Lee, Pam & Bonnie were some of the best
times of my life.

Frank Turley

A friend of Doug's, Julie Ann Grimm, now a journalist in
Santa Fe, informed me today of Doug's passing to the
other side. I didn't know Doug as well as some. Just
wanted to mention though, that he was a blacksmith
student at my forge a number of years ago. He told
me that he was working primarily with wood at that
time. He came to Santa Fe from Drake University
with every intention of directing his attention toward
iron. He has done so in a big way. I followed his career
and was happy when I read of his successes. I saw
Doug and Bonnie at the Seattle ABANA blacksmithing
conference last year and was glad to give him a hug.
ABANA had put up a retrospective exhibition of his
work, and it was worth seeing.

Sue Hagan and Mick Sutton

I (Sue) visited Doug during one of his
hospitalizations this year. A minister
came in and asked Doug if he was religious
--Doug's reply was "Yeah, kind of a
free-wheeling Christian"--and then the
minister asked if he'd like a prayer said.
Doug replied, "That would be nice...maybe
you could pray for the folks in the Middle
East--they need help more than I do." He was
that kind of guy.

Another Doug memory. He once honked and waved
the car ahead of him to pull over, then
confronted the driver for throwing trash out the
window--imagine a blacksmith telling you to
mind your manners!

We have numerous Doug-made iron items in our
house, from the very practical
(food chopper, fire-wood rack, plant-hanger, etc.)
to the very artistic pieces that grace our walls.
These items will live forever and we treasure
them all, but what will really endure is mirthful
creative intelligence he had which touch us all.

Condon and Georgeann Kuhl

I have not been much of a communicator since we moved to Maine,
but every so often my phone would ring and there would be Doug
checking in. I always enjoyed hearing from him and our conversations
always left me feeling very joyful.

Thats how I will always remember Doug...Joyful and full of life and vitality.

Where do I start? Perhaps just a stream of consciousness....
At Drake a wonderful teacher, collegue, energetic positive spirit in the in
the Art Department.....A trip with you and Doug to the blacksmithing
conference in Carbondale.......Thanksgiving and summers at peola .........

The musical group strumming away at Farleys.......Parties at the house
in Johnston .........Crazy art projects (draw til you puke), surf boards
floating down the DesMoines river......A weather vane that Doug made
sitting on our roof.....all kinds of fire irons that Doug made when he was
learning blacksmithing that I use at my three wood burning stoves.........
Doug the artist.....

Probably most important to me is that I always felt that Doug was
genuinely interested in what I was doing as an artist, and that he
respected my work.

Georgeann and I last saw Doug and Bonnie in Nova Scotia the
summer they found out he had the problem. They were having a
good trip and hearing lots of good Cape Breton music. I will always
treasure that last time together.

Georgeann remembers:Most recently, going to the Kaiely in Cape
Breton, hearing the "master" play the fiddle, with Doug stomping
his feet; a jolly night.., and back 20 years or so, visiting Peola and
seeing Doug at his forge...40 plus years ago, as a Drake student,
a big burly, mouthy , joke cracking prof....and Doug & Bonnie
delivering a beautiful weather vane with a whale for our new home
in Maine...which is always pointing the right direction, where Doug
is now, moving along in the right direction...moving on.

Doug will be missed.

Ada Medina

Doug passed on today. And I'm looking at my favorite
on-the-road photo of Doug. Bonnie took the pic on
their trek west, visiting friends after Doug learned of
his diagnosis. On the day we parted in Santa Fe, I
gave Doug a favorite toy Kachina with hot pink feet,
turquoise torso, and a black head with aqua-colored
fuzz hair as an offering for the road.

In the photo, Doug is in profile with the vast desert
flowing past the window as he drives the van.
His right hand's on the wheel, and in his left hand,
Doug delicately holds Kachina before him, upright
by the feet so that Kachina looks forward as the road
winds up ahead.

That's how I picture Doug now - riding strong, freer
than free with Kachina. Still, I'm so sad, for myself
left behind, knowing I'll not be getting those big old
turnips (big as my head) that Doug would send me
and Sharon. Those incomparable turnips, rolling
bare naked in a cardboard box destined for world-class
stew. I'll miss you and all your gifts forever, Doug.
Yours was the sweetest love, spirit, and humor a
being could have. I was honored to have you in my life.
And, hey bud, on Cinco de Mayo, today the rarest
snow is falling out my window. I dedicate it to you.
I love you, Ada

Malcom Clark

Please allow me to share our sympathies for
the loss of our friend, Doug...Doug and Bonnie
have been such a perfect example for all of
us to learn from...We learn to live with the
fact that at certain times in our lives, we will
not be able to be there for others...No matter
how dear they might be to us...all things will
not be perfect in our lives...I can only pray
that as I face the end of my trail, I too might
face it with as much dignity... and be half the
man Doug was...Also, if the truth were to be
known, I would pray even harder to be as
strong as Bonny has been through this ordeal...

Vivian Torrence

I am so sad and sorry to hear of Doug's passing
today. You have all my sympathy for losing such
a wonderful person, partner and pal in your lives.
He is solid in my memory now as one great spirit.

Reflecting on Doug, I see a joyful history of many fun
moments as he spread his good humor around Drake
University in those early days. Doug loosened up the
decorum at Drake after all it was 1970's Des Moines, Iowa.
Thank god for the parties at Doug and Bonnie's. The
Farley's sculpture and ceramics professors and wives
(Drake Dames ?) thought life in Academia was too dull
so dropped out and became the Peola Valley Four.

Enclosed are photos from a trip Randy Long and I took
down to Missouri just two years ago to this day.
May 3-5, 2005. Randy and I are so very grateful we had
time with you to think about old times and make some
new memories too.

Doug's enthusiasm and understanding for art, fun and
life shows with every sparkle of wit and jibe that we all
know. Serious and thoughtful, but most of all fully
engaged in life.