Douglas Anthony Prescott

Prescott, Douglas Anthony Tustin native Douglas Anthony Prescott, 56, passed away on September 15, 2009. Born into a farming family, Doug pursued his loves of agriculture and adventure across the globe. A 1971 graduate of Mission Viejo High School, Doug and two of his brothers chose that school because it was the only school in the Tustin Unified School District at that time that had an agriculture curriculum. While only teenagers, Doug and his brothers Chad and Tommy opened Prescott Brothers Ranch Market at the corner of 17th and Newport in North Tustin, selling corn, pumpkins, strawberries, tomatoes, and more from 1966 until 1974. Standard Oil representative Frank Greinke granted the teen-aged entrepreneurs a credit card to facilitate purchase of fuel for their farming endeavors, a rare business risk for the time. Doug attended University of Nevada at Reno, but soon wanderlust compelled him to follow his brother, Chad, to Australia, to work at ranching and farm equipment repairs. He circumnavigated the continent of Australia, enjoying the wonders and excitement the continent offered. Doug continued to travel extensively his entire life, traversing North Africa, Europe, Russia, Japan, Asia and India, and absorbing everything he could. It was on one of his sojourns in India that Doug sought out Mother Teresa. They were traveling on a train together, and Mother Teresa said to him, "What would you like from me, my child?" With typical candor, Doug responded, "Nothing, I just want to chat." Doug loved to learn from the experience of others. With his magnetic personality and winning smile, he made friends wherever his traveling feet led him. He also hiked to the basecamp of Mt. Everest, the furthest one may travel without requiring oxygen. In later years, Doug co-owned an international export business and for over 15 years he has farmed 10,000 acres in Arizona where he grows cotton and vegetables. He was also the last owner of The Ranch House. Located on El Camino Real, this establishment was the oldest continually-operated saloon in Orange County. Doug took great delight in his holiday barbecues and feasts for the benefit of his patrons who had no family with whom to spend the holidays. Doug was generous to a fault. To the end, he was a strong Tustin booster, instrumental in the building of the Acorn Naturalist building, lobbying for the development and community enhancement of Tustin, and a welcome site at the Tustin Chili Cook-Off with his mouth-watering wood-grilled tri-tip sandwiches. Doug cheated the Grim Reaper on numerous occasions. He was run over by a tractor at the age of 15, rolled a truck off Saddleback Peak as a teen, and survived a serious auto accident in Finland. The car was totaled, but Doug was not. He was an avid outdoorsman. He was happiest at the family cabin at Big Bear Lake. Hunting, fishing, and archery were delights, and he was also an accomplished gourmet chef and avid gardener. Doug is survived by his loving son, Joseph Prescott; Joe's mother, Maureen Leaman; his mother, Mary Prescott; his brothers Chad, Earl, and Tommy (wife:Debbie), his Uncle Paul Lieb; Uncle Mark and Aunt Celestine Guho; fifteen nieces and nephews, and his dearest companion of many years, Jill Gibbons. Doug was preceded in death by his father, John A. Prescott and his uncle, Joseph Lieb. Doug lived life his own way and to its fullest, yet made his peace with his Lord before his death. Here is the inscription that Mother Teresa personally inscribed in her book to Doug on that long-ago trip to Calcutta: "Dear Douglas, The best way to show our gratitude to God and people is to accept everything with joy. A joyful Christian is like a sunshine of God's love, the hope of eternal happiness, the flame of burning love. May you serve the Church joyfully. God bless you, M Teresa MC 12/20/76." Doug Prescott was a joyful Christian. Arrangements are by Saddleback Chapel, Tustin. Graveside service of committal at Holy Sepulcher Cemetery on Saturday, September 19, at 10 am. A private funeral Mass has been held. In lieu of flowers, the family requests any donations be made to: The Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County, 426-A West Almond Street, Orange, CA 92866. Saddleback Chapel