Obituary of Douglas Smith

Douglas Smith, 74, of St Petersburg, Florida was promoted to Glory on August 10, 2023 after a long illness. Cathy, his wife and cheerleader of 23 years was at his side in their home, as were his beloved fur babies. He was born on November 3, 1948 to Harry and Maxine Smith. in Fayetteville, North Carolina.

Doug spent his high school years in Savannah, Georgia, where he was on the swim team and also enjoyed building muscle cars. An avid gear head, he could always be found racing his first love, a ’64 Chevelle, with his friends on the weekends.

After high school, he began his 57-year career in the power and telecommunications industries which took him to many places throughout the world, including Iran and several locations throughout Europe. Declaring he was born with gills, Doug always returned to the Gulf of Mexico, ultimately settling in St Petersburg in 1999. He enjoyed anything water-related: boating, fishing, skiing, scuba diving, and countless other activities. He was rarely seen without his Guy Harvey or Columbia attire. Helping those in need was extremely important to Doug. Whether two- or four-legged, if one of God’s creatures needed assistance, Doug was always ready to step in. Called an honorable man by several of his colleagues, Doug will always be remembered for his gentle spirit, adventurous nature, quick wit, and wonderful sense of humor.

Doug is survived by his wife, Cathy;  two half-brothers Donald and David (Tricia), both of Georgia, a half-sister Debbie (Wayne) Haddad of North Carolina; and several nieces, nephews, and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents, Maj Harry Smith, USA, Ret, and Maxine (Fox) Smith.

A private Celebration of Life for family and close friends is being planned for some time later this year.

In lieu of flowers, Doug has requested that donations be made in his name to the Suncoast Hospice Foundation https://suncoasthospicefoundation.org, so that his life’s mission of helping others can continue, even in death.