Douglas Howard Gregory

Douglas Howard Gregory went to be with his Lord and Savior in the early morning hours of November 7, 2025, at his home in Longmont surrounded by his wife, Hazel and children, Linda, Stephen, Ann and son-in-law, Kevin after complications from a fall.

Born in Battle Creek, Nebraska on March 5, 1934, to Howard and Wilma (Ruegge) Gregory, Doug spent many hours fishing on the banks of the Union and Taylor creeks, near Madison, Nebraska. Moving frequently, Doug lived in over fifteen locations by the time he was eighteen. He always spoke fondly of memories in the ice cream shop, his childhood pup, Patty Pooch, spending the summers in Madison and the winters in Bellevue as well as washing dishes at the Crescent Confectionery in Lander, WY.

In his late teenage years, Doug worked at the Alliance Floral shop where he made and delivered the floral arrangements, becoming so talented that he and the shop owner would create casket sprays together for funeral services. Here, he met his life-time love, Hazel Joan Armstrong. Shortly after, Douglas was sworn into the United States Navy and left to Great Lakes, IL for boot camp. Returning briefly for a winter break, Doug asked Hazel for a date and no more than 13 dates later, they were married on December 30, 1956. Doug and Hazel were then stationed at the Naval Air base in Corpus Christi, TX where they excitedly welcomed their first daughter, Linda.

After Douglas's military service concluded in January of 1959, he and Hazel with Linda moved to Odgen, Utah and Doug attended Weber State College, graduating just over a year later in June of 1960. The family then moved to Boulder, Colorado and Doug began work with the Dow Chemical Company. Shortly after, their second child, Stephen, was born in September of 1960 and their final child, Ann, was joyfully added to the family in January 1962.

Doug remained with the Dow Chemical Company until 1966 and then worked with Ball Brothers Research Laboratories until 1981 where he went into photo processing business for himself. Doug and Hazel built the rest of their life in the mountains outside of Lyons. They operated D & H Photo until December of 1989 and then opened The Custom Darkroom with their son Stephen and his wife Patty until Doug formally retired in the fall of 1992.

After his retirement, Doug spent his time enjoying recreational photography, traveling the states in his fifth wheel with Hazel, studying the Bible, computer programing, fishing and music. His Bible of 76 years is filled with notations and highlights, demonstrating how much he loved the Lord and desired to understand as much about God as he could here on earth. His family rejoices that he no longer walks by faith alone, but that he is walking in the presence of the Lord. Doug will be remembered fondly for his gentle spirit, love of music and love for Hazel and family and has spent the last few years dutifully and lovingly caring for Hazel as they aged.

Doug is preceded in death by his parents, Walter Howard and Wilma Esther (Ruegge) Gregory and sister, Dona Jean (Gregory) Bailey.

Doug is survived by his loving wife, Hazel and three children: Linda (Scott) Jolly of Aurora, CO, Stephen (Patty) Gregory of Columbia Falls, MT and Ann (Kevin) Demoney of Strasburg, CO. Doug is also survived by six grandchildren: Michelle (Byron) Kramer, Christopher (Lacy) Jolly, Angela (Michael) Breed, Sarah (Timothy) Sullivan, Joshua Gregory, and partner Catharine; Hannah (Dylan) Curtis. He is also survived by thirteen great grandchildren.