Douglas Robert Cole was born to Albert (Bert) and May Cole on June 30, 1943 in Melfort, Saskatchewan. He was raised on the farm but resisted becoming a farm boy, mostly because he didn’t like cows. May used to tell everyone that all the other cows would be milked while Doug dreamed up more "efficient" ways of getting the milk out of the one he was milking. Doug loved all things mechanical and set out to work in the bush at the grand age of 15 running Caterpillars for Gordon Campbell. He then started a life-long career welding, first at Dobson’s Welding in Melfort for Jack Dobson before venturing out on his own, welding at the farm and then buying the property in Beatty where he established Cole’s Welding and Machine. Doug worked hard during his welding career, long hours many of which morphed into not making it home literally for days in order to finish: installing truck hoists, creating safety equipment for RCMP vehicles, building gas tanks, repairing plow Cats, combines, tractors and anything else that needed Doug’s attention. To quote his dad Bert, "there’s nothing in this world he can’t make or fix." Everyone knew if you had an "impossible job" to call Doug, because he could not only do it, it would be made "right" and with his pride of quality "made to last." In Doug’s personal life he met and married his life-long love and partner Dora Miller. They were married in Carrot River, Saskatchewan on July 20, 1963. Born to Dora and Doug were two children: Natalie and Calvin. Natalie became a teacher and moved to Alberta and Calvin spent most of his childhood, youth and young adulthood alongside his dad, learning from the master welder to be a master welder himself. As Natalie and Calvin met and married their own loves, Doug and Dora’s family grew to encompass Natalie’s husband Nathan Lamothe and Calvin’s wife Rachael (Boyd). How Doug enjoyed his growing family. His joy just kept multiplying with the addition of the grandchildren, Samantha, Alixaundria, Sydney and Owen. There was nothing that could put a smile on his face like the grandchildren could. Three years ago, Doug was blessed with a baby great-grandchild Aubree. She was his delight and every trip to Melfort had to end in a detour to see his "little Twiddles" before going home to the farm. Doug battled health issues most of his life. He developed crippling arthritis at the age of 33. Doug endured painful treatments, joint replacements and loads of medication for the remainder of his life. Every day was a struggle with pain and mobility. In his last decade of life, Doug also developed severe heart problems, leading to multiple surgeries and during his last stages of life, arterial problems, stroke and loss of blood flow to his feet. Dora lovingly and patiently cared for Doug every day. She was his partner, his love, and his caregiver. No greater care could she give. As Doug’s heart disease worsened at the end of his life, he needed hospitalization and finally long-term care at the Jubilee Lodge in Kinistino. Dora faithfully visited Doug daily to the end of his life, holding his hand and talking to him as he made his way to heaven. As much as his family will miss him, they know that Doug is in a better place having received God’s gift of salvation on April 5, 1961. Doug is finally free of the physical pain he endured during much of his life on earth. When you remember Doug, please remember the smile on his face, the stories he loved to share and the love in his heart he had for others.