Dr. Douglas Ayers

Dr. Douglas Ayers, 56, of Shavertown passed away Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2017, surrounded by his loving family.

Dr. Douglas Ayers grew up in Wilkes-Barre, but his heart was with the family farm, nestled in state game lands 57 in Noxen. He attended Coughlin High School and King's College locally. He attended veterinary school at the University of Pennsylvania with the intention of becoming a biomedical researcher. He worked as a research assistant at the University of Texas in a program dedicated to restoring emotional/behavioral well-being to a large colony of chimpanzees.

During vet school, he worked under an AIDS research grant as a Fellow at Harvard Medical School. Following graduation from PENN, he declined a post-doctorate position at Harvard, in order to return to Northeast Pennsylvania and practice veterinary medicine. He co-founded a land conservancy that preserved more than 12,000 acres of land regionally for wildlife and green space. This organization enables landowners to conserve their property as well as teach the public the values/necessity of conservation.

Doug was co-founder of the Conservation Coalition. This is a melding of many conservation groups that focus on preserving a several hundred thousand square mile region surrounding and including the state game lands 57, 66, and 13.

Dr. Ayers was co-founder of the Republicans for Environmental Protection (Pennsylvania Chapter). This is a statewide group of conservative environmentalists that are well organized and effective in promoting progressive environmental policy in our state. His broad understanding of environmental issues led to this appointment to the Luzerne County Flood Authority.

Dr. Ayers was founder and visionary of The Lands at Hillside Farms, where he served as the chairman from its establishment until his passing. This is a 412-acre historic, sustainable living facility which has as its goal to educate people how every citizen might make sensible life choices where if enough of us practice these sustainable/sensible actions that our world would allow posterity to inherit a place with all the resources and opportunities we have now. Some of the tenets that he considered sustainable were individual responsibility such as "don't ask anybody to do for you what you can do for yourself," "All of the passengers in the boat should be required to help row." Love thy neighbor and please "do unto others as you would have them do unto you." Servant leadership - instill in oneself and others a spirit of giving back." Financial responsibility - pay your bills and do not rely upon credit and live within your means." Character - this is something that one is not born with but rather is revealed via having been sculpted by life's vicissitudes." And lastly faith, the Lands at Hillside Farm was established by a group of Christians who desired to teach a walk-in life that mimicked Christ's as we feel that His walk in the Way toward a perfected trajectory individually and collectively.

In 1995, he opened Plains Animal Hospital. In 2007, he built the present environmentally green facility which houses Plains Animal Hospital and Northeast Veterinary Referral Hospital, a state of the art referral center. His excellence in veterinary service resulted in his inclusion on the State Board of Veterinary Medicine.

Doug's love of life and respect for the environment and all living things was demonstrated daily in the way he lived and causes he championed. Through his mentorship his work ethic and vision will be carried on at Plains Animal Hospital, Northeast Vet Hospital, The Lands at Hillside and many other causes. Doug truly made our world a better place. He is sadly missed by his family, many friends, loyal clients, their pets, and his own pet, cattle dog "Sweetie."

He was preceded in death by his mother, Shirley Ayers; father, Dr. Donald Ayers; and brother, David Ayers.

He leaves behind his fiancée and loyal caretaker, Julie Schneggenburger, New York; his sisters, Donna Schuler and her husband, Fred, Harveys Lake; Debbie DeMuro and her husband, Joe, Shavertown; and numerous nieces, nephews and great-nieces.

The funeral service will be private at the convenience of his family in Trucksville United Methodist Church, Trucksville.

Family and friends are asked to call at Hugh B. Hughes & Son Inc. Funeral Home, 1044 Wyoming Ave., Forty Fort, from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Friday.

In memory of Doug, donations may be made to The Lands at Hillside Farms, 65 Hillside Road, Shavertown, PA 18708; Trucksville United Methodist Church, 40 Knob Hill Road, Shavertown, PA 18708; The Leukemia Society; or the National Donor Registry.

For information, or to send the family a condolence, please visit the funeral home website at hughbhughes.com.