Douglas W. Proper

Douglas W. Proper, 59, of Erie, died unexpectedly Monday morning, December 26, 2011 at UPMC Hamot. A resident of Erie most of his life, he was born in Titusville, Pa. on May 3, 1952, a son of the late William S. and Patricia Shade Proper. Douglas was a 1970 graduate of Iroquois High School and went on to serve in the United States Army during the Vietnam War. He worked as a burner at the G.E. for over 20 years and was a member of Simpson United Methodist Church. He was also a member of A.B.A.T.E. and the Veterans of Foreign Wars and enjoyed riding motorcycles. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by one sister in infancy, Milia Proper. Survivors include his wife of 35 years, Esther "Jean" Layton Proper; one son, Brian Layton, and his wife, Heather, of Erie; one daughter, Trisha Proper, and her partner, Melissa Wertz, of Erie; two brothers, Dwight Proper and his wife, Barb, of Titusville, Pa., and William L. Proper and his wife, Trisha, of Guys Mills, Pa.; his stepmother, Karen Proper, of Erie; one stepbrother, Eugene Gaerttner, and his wife, Audrey, of North East, Pa.; three grandchildren, Josh, Ashleigh, and Zachary; one great-grandchild, Nicholas Parr; and many nieces and nephews. Friends may call at the Russell C. Schmidt & Son Funeral Home, Inc., 5000 Wattsburg Rd., on Wednesday from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., and are invited to services there on Thursday morning at 10 a.m. Burial will be in Woodlawn Cemetery in Titusville, Pa. Memorial contributions can be made to the Disabled American Veterans, P.O. Box 14301, Cincinatti, OH 45250, Attn:Gift Processing, or a charity of one's choice. To send condolences, please visit www.schmidtfuneralhomeerie.com.