Bob MacDougall
Bob passed away peacefully the 8th of December, 2023, the eve of his 94th birthday. He is survived by his son Gavin MacDougall; brother Bruce (Sandy) MacDougall and his wife Christine; sister-in-law Betty Zerbach; nephew Bryant MacDougall and wife Tigist; grandniece Sophia MacDougall and grandnephew Nathan MacDougall, along with many others of the extended MacDougall family.
Born in Seattle, WA on December 9, 1929, he grew up on Queen Anne Hill. The family moved frequently so he attended nearly every school on the hill, graduating from Queen Anne High in 1948. During the war he delivered newspapers at Ft. Lawton in Magnolia and in high school built a boat in the family garage.
He met his wife, Barbara, along with other lifelong friends, while dinghy sailing in the UW Sailing Club program at the University of Washington, including a trip to San Francisco to compete. The bigger win was marrying Barbs in 1952 after joining the Air Force for a four-year stint. The last two years were spent at the US Airforce Base at Ashiya in Japan before returning to civilian life in Seattle and a home on Queen Anne Hill.
Bob always loved being near the water, and their homes always reflected that interest. They owned boats, sailed with friends, walked beaches, and always found topics of interest to share. In 1965 they welcomed son Gavin and Bob became an involved father sharing his inherent curiosity, love of photography, boating, and travel with Gavin, of whom he was always so proud.
Bob worked at Boeing until the “Boeing Bust” in the 1970s. After a stint as a business consultant, he became a truck driver, steering 18-wheelers throughout the region. He then transitioned to the dispatch office, and later became a courier for ADP Payroll before retiring. In retirement he volunteered as an usher at what was then Key Arena and was also an Artists’Aide for Seattle Opera, driving visiting performers to rehearsals and other destinations. The latter was an activity that he enjoyed with Barbs who was also an opera fan. Barbs passed in 2016 but still remains near in his memory.
Bob enjoyed travelling with brother Sandy. He especially treasured their trips to the Amazon River and to the Antarctic to meet the penguins. And in 2018, he realized a lifelong dream when he traveled with son Gavin to Scotland to see the homes of his ancestors and visited the private quarters of Dunollie Castle, the home of the MacDougall clan.
An avid learner, Bob pursued many interests over the years. He golfed into his 80’s, often with brother Sandy, built balsa wood plane models, studied new technologies like 3D printing and electric cars, grew worms (or tried), and was always able to add a topic of interest to a conversation.
He will be missed for his devotion to his family, his honesty, good humor, wit, enthusiasm for learning and his ability to tell a good story.
He was the epitome of a good man.
Comments
This is a wonderful tribute Gavin. He was indeed a wonderful man and charming conversationalist. He led an interesting life and obviously loved you very much.
Sandy Leicester
