Douglas Sylvers

Longbranch resident Doug Sylvers died peacefully Feb. 21. He was 85. 

Born in 1937 in Minneapolis, Doug graduated in 1959 from the University of Minnesota with a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering. He worked at the Minneapolis Gas Co., where he met his future wife, Judy. They married in 1965. 

The couple moved to Honolulu, where Doug worked for a gas company. After a few years of island life, he landed a job as an aeronautical engineer with Lockheed Martin in California. He later worked for Northrup Grumman in a position that required a relocation of his family to Switzerland. 

Doug’s career made for an exciting life of travel from Minnesota to Hawaii to California to Switzerland before retiring in 1999 to live in beautiful Longbranch.

Best friends for 57 years, Doug and Judy’s favorite song was “Moon River” and despite staying put in one place, they never stopped thinking of themselves as “two drifters.”

Whether it was clamming on the beach, putting out crab pots and fishing from his boat or casting out from shore, Doug fully embraced life surrounded by Puget Sound. 

He adored his children and grandchildren. The family loved playing what they referred to as “shovel ball,” in the backyard, essentially baseball, complete with bases to run around. 

He was a perennial volunteer who for many years managed the Longbranch Improvement Club’s annual dock breakfast to celebrate opening day of boating season. He and his family volunteered at the Key Peninsula Community Fair. 

His full-bodied laughter and infectious smile were unbeatable. He was a dear and valued loyal friend to many. 

Doug was a deeply loved husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He is survived by his wife Judy; daughter Denice (John); son Patrick (Tori); three granddaughters, three grandsons and two great-grandsons.