RANGELEY – Douglas Francis Rose of Rangeley, and (reluctantly) Phoenix, Ariz., made his last inappropriate and sarcastic comment in early September of this year, 2024.

Luckily, he told enough jokes in his lifetime to keep his daughter, Rhondi, laughing as they faced these tough last five years together through thick and thin. Doug’s brand of humor was the sly, sarcastic kind that snuck up on you, and he passed this along to her, along with numerous other personality quirks like mumbling and cracking up when someone stubs their toe. They were two peas in a pod, but when they combined their strength together, there was almost nothing that could stop them.

Many of you knew Doug as reserved, sometimes shy, and never wanting to make waves, but he was also the first to stand up for the underdog and make his voice heard and his presence felt. He was also, very consistently and humbly, the best-looking guy in the room. Doug was kind to a fault and always supported his community even when it meant an extra expense or inconvenience. He would say, “you have to help keep them in business.”

Doug found great joy in drinking beer out of his little red cooler. Whether he was roaming the backroads of Maine, piloting his boat on Rangeley Lake, or on his patio (oops! Deck ). That Deck was his favorite spot. He would hangout, soak up the sun, and read for hours. He would watch his sunset and sometimes be inspired to take a picture and sometimes not. Then he would put on his fountain in his natural spring fed pond . It does a little light show and spurts some water. Doug often puzzled over whether or not the fountain was working to his liking and, of course, looked after his trees in the yard with the keenest eye.

Rhondi will never forget spending most of the summer of ‘24 chasing caterpillar webs at his request. Doug loved his weekly hangouts with Cousin Hal, Leo, and Steve. They had a lot of great laughs and loved hitting the Eagles Club on Friday night and losing the draw.

Doug grew up in Mexico, Maine, the youngest son of Francis Sumner Rose and Mary Teresa Bulger. He had an older brother, Leeroy Allen Rose. All three of them preceded Doug in death and throughout his life he fretted about outliving his family. Truth be told, he missed them dearly and you could see the twinkle in his eye when he told stories about his beloved parents and brother.

“Pops” as Rhondi called him, almost made it to 76, but he came up a little over a month shy. Doug lost the ability to walk in 1978 after a tragic accident when he was 30. Doctors told him that as a paraplegic, he would be lucky to see 50, so beating the odds was something he became known for in his lifetime. Prior to his accident, he was an athlete playing football, track, cross country, ski jumping and cross-country skiing. He was a letterman, a Junior National skier and later a National Ski team member for both jumping and cross country.

Doug had a full ride scholarship to Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado where he graduated with a BA in business. He built houses and owned several businesses over his years living in the west. After returning to Maine, he worked as a foreman facilitating cement work on home foundations before getting into the tax business with H&R Block. He owned two branches, one in Rumford and one in Rangeley. Over the years he has built four homes for himself with the Rangeley home being his last along with the condo he renovated in Phoenix to be closer to Rhondi, her husband, his cherished grandchildren, and extended family and friends. He often joked the Rangeley house was the only one he got to keep.

He is survived by his daughter, Rhondi Reardon, son-in-law Tom; grandchildren Elise Southway, Ashton Dijikstra, Hayden Dijkstra, Devin Dijkstra, Teresa Reardon, Liam Reardon, Ryan Monaghan (wife, Bree); great granddaughters Skylar Foisey, and Mia Monaghan; as well as many friends and extended family members who will miss him dearly.

A Visitation will be held on Oct. 11, 2024, at 2 p.m. until 5 p.m. at Meader & Son Funeral home, 3 Franklin St., Rumford, ME 04276 . His mass will be held Oct. 12, 2024 at 10 a.m. at St Luke Catholic Church, 19 Lake St, Rangeley, Maine 04970. Following his service, at The Guides Clubhouse, located on Old Skiway Road in Oquossoc, Maine, food will be served and loved ones can congregate to tell stories about Doug. He will be missed greatly.

In lieu of flowers,

donations can be made to:

The Rangeley Region Guides and Sportsmen’s Association

P.O. Box 244

Rangeley, ME 04970-0244

which was a cause close to Dad’s heart

Rhondi requests that everyone crack open a cold beer or pour a dram of scotch in his honor… Sláinte