H. Douglas Latimer

H. Douglas Latimer

Redding, CA

8/16/1943 - 8/1/2015

Doug was born in Independence, Missouri, in 1943 to James Harvey and Ernestine Inez (Thomas) Latimer. He grew up all around the world while his father served in the Air Force. When they moved to Sacramento Doug met, then later married, his high school sweetheart, Colleen Ruth Mitchell. They would have been married 50 years in September.

Doug enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served as a hospital corpsman for two years active duty, followed by four years in the reserves. He graduated from Sacramento State University with a Masters degree in Public Administration. Though at first he did not know how he would be using this degree, he ended up in public service for 41 years. He worked with Sacramento County Probation for 16 years. For the next 12 years he worked in Nevada County, first as the Chief Probation Officer, then Assistant County Administrator, followed by Chief Administrator. Doug was Shasta County Chief Administrator for 11 years before he retired in 2006. He loved the people he worked in association with and enjoyed volunteering with such organizations as First Baptist Church of Redding, Good News Rescue Mission, United Way, KIXE Public Television and Mercy Hospital, among others.

His proudest professional accomplishments were construction of the Shasta County Administration Center and working to locate the Northern California Veterans Cemetery in Shasta County. His biggest passion and joy was his family.

He is survived by wife Colleen, daughters Ronda (Billy) Graham of Redding and Michelle (Dan) Pidduck of Shoreline Washington.; grandchildren Jocelynn and Gavin Graham, and Gabriella and Isabella Pidduck; mother Ernestine Inez Latimer, sister Linda (Lou) Contreras and brother-in-law Scott (Lynne) Mitchell, nephew Jim Himenes and nieces Christine Mitchell and Lisa Himenes.

A Celebration of Life will be held at First Baptist Church 1959 Eureka Way, Redding on Saturday August 8 at 2:00 p.m.

He used to keep a $100 bill in his wallet to use when he found someone in special need. In lieu of flowers, he would have loved to have you pass that tradition on.