Chief Petty Officer, Douglas Lee 'Doug' Fifer, USN RET, 79

| February 14, 2013 10:10 PM

Chief Petty Officer, Douglas Lee “Doug” Fifer, USN RET, 79, of Hayden, passed away peacefully at his home Jan. 19, 2013.

Graveside services with military honors will take place at 9 a.m. Friday, March 1, 2013, at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va.

He was born on June 12, 1933, in Indianapolis, Ind., to Daniel Lee and Annabel Littleton Fifer. Doug served in the U.S. Navy for 22 years retiring as a Chief Petty Officer. He directed rescue missions in Korea and Vietnam and participated in the rescue of 14 pilots. After retiring from the Navy, Doug worked as a Data Analyst for 15 years at Litton Industries in Van Nuys, Calif. Doug’s life goal after retirement was to move north to Idaho, which he did in 1990. He was a certified flight instructor

and a volunteer pilot in Idaho for various government agencies including the Idaho Department of Fish and Game and the FBI. His greatest flying achievement was as a pilot for Angel Flight, a nonprofit organization that provides free air transportation for any charitable, medically related need for individuals and health-care organizations.

Doug was also a lifelong bowler. At the age of 70 he placed 19th at the 2004 ABC National Tournament, including all age groups. But his passion and pride was in his family.

Survivors include his daughter, Danielle L. Fifer of Bryan/College Station, Texas; his son, Douglas Lee Fifer II and wife Jennifer, and their children, Audree and Connor Fifer, all of Saginaw, Texas.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to Dr. Rudy Briner of Bryan/College Station, Texas, St. Joseph Rehab Center of Bryan, Texas, Comfort Keepers and Crest Home Health & Hospice of Coeur d’Alene.

With heartfelt gratitude, Danielle and Douglas II, express their deepest appreciation to Mark Kostuch and Barbara Sturdy of Hayden for their remarkable and incalculable dedication to their father.

In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be sent to Kootenai Humane Society, P.O. Box 1005 Hayden, ID 83835 or to the Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675.