Surrounded by a few devoted and loving friends, Douglas MacArthur McCort passed away Tuesday, March 29, 2022, in Fairbanks, Alaska. Doug was not ready to die at age 50, but cancer had other ideas.
Before courageously fighting metastasized renal cell cancer for the better part of 2½ years as well as another lifelong but intermittent illness, Doug was a vibrant and extremely intelligent person. Always interested in learning and improving his life, he sought out what ever knowledge he needed to meet life’s tasks. Most people who met him for the first time were immediately struck by his intelligence and ease in discussing a variety of topics.
A graduate of North Pole High School, Doug, throughout his life, always had a great interest in music and taught himself how to play the guitar as a teen, forming a band with friends before graduation. He also attended a post-secondary school for music in Washington state. Later in life, as a self-starter, he worked as a carpenter, amongst other jobs, and eventually built a duplex as well as ran a few online businesses successfully.
Doug strove to live in the present, trying not to focus on the past but rather learn from it, and then let future take care of itself.
One of Doug’s greatest joys was sharing his home with his cat – his Bro. The cat ran away from his previous home, found and adopted Doug, and chose to stay with him, to which the previous owner agreed.
Throughout his life, Doug also enjoyed fishing and the outdoors, creating many memories with friends.
As a friend, Doug had many traits others looked up to. He was always willing to help others. He was also very forgiving and honest with his friends. They could count on him for the truth, delivered with genuineness and kindness, as well as wise and intellectually stimulating conversations.
While Doug’s illnesses took him out of his friends’ lives here and there, he knew they were just a phone call, email or message away. Any time Doug reconnected with a friend after a period of an absence, it was as if no time had passed. He had an easy way of reconnecting and picking up with people right where he left off. And despite the pain, he was grateful for each new day to see friends and his beloved cat.
Doug is preceded in death by his father Douglas McCort. He is survived by Pamela McCort, his cat, and a multitude of friends.
Doug will be missed.
There will be no service for Doug, per his wishes. In lieu of flowers, if you are so inclined, please donate to a charity Doug would support.
Published by Daily News-Miner on Apr. 14, 2022.
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