On Nov. 9, 2012, 110 friends and relatives gathered at the Quesnel and District Seniors Centre to help Doug and Jean Davis celebrate their 70th wedding anniversary. Having lived in the Quesnel area for the past 62 years, they got to know a number of people. Seated around tables, friends filled the hall with happy chatter.
The couple were married in Duncan on Vancouver Island Nov. 9, 1942. Doug had been in the army for 13 months and transferred to the navy where he served for three months until his discharge because he was under age. Jean worked at Island Drug Store in Duncan. They moved to Port Alberni in 1946, where Doug worked at construction on the new pulp mill. Another move took them to Hope, where Doug worked on the Hope-Princeton Highway. He took out a franchise to haul and deliver freight but later sold out and went logging until July 1950, when they moved to Quesnel where his mother Eva and step-dad Frank Stevenson lived. From 1951 to 1957, Doug was salesman for Beath Motors, the local Ford dealership. He later worked for General Motors for a couple of years prior to taking up guiding.
In 1957, Doug got a guiding license for Bazeko Lake at the end of the road. This was later disposed of in 1960 when they bought another area at Batnuni Lake (previously owned by Rich Hobson and Pan Phillips) also at the end of the road for guiding and trapping. On their ranch, 132 miles NW of Quesnel, they had 200 head of cattle and 55 horses. They guided there for more than 14 years. Doug recalls doing lots of worrying while Jean was on the road in very cold weather, even though he knew she always packed warm clothing. Jean would ride with their hunting guests while Doug made preparations for new hunters returning with Jean.
In 1966, they bought out the Joe Spehar property at Nazko and ran the coffee shop and store. Four years later they sold to Bill Palmer.
Doug purchased a guide area near Vanderhoof. A few years later, Jean purchased about a half an acre adjacent to Doug’s but they had to use a boat to get to it. Jean also hauled a trailer with horses but in 1971 she was finding the work too much for her and sold out to help Doug in his area with cooking and packing until he sold out in 2000.
Doug recalls one time when he shot a moose and had to leave it for a short time; Jean found the animal when she went out, cut it up and packed it into camp. When Doug came back he wondered what became of the moose he dropped. They have lots of stories to tell of the back country.
They are very proud of their son and daughter. Dave was born in 1942 and at 19 years he drove a truck for Chapman Freight Lines for 14 years. He then hauled logs and later bought his own truck. He sold out to retire in 2011 and lives in Williams Lake. His son Scott (Darlene) is also doing well. Their son Jordon, 17 years old, is involved in bike racing with his dad Scott. They have taken trophies. Darlene’s interest lies in horses.
Doug and Jean’s daughter Gaylene (Roar Hegge) lives in Dawson Creek with their two daughters Amber and Brandy. It was Gaylene who basically organized the anniversary event.
Six year ago Jean suffered a debilitating stroke to put an end to her very active lifestyle. It also left her virtually blind but at certain times of the day she can see a little out of one eye.
Music has been a big part of Doug’s life. His original band the Devil Dreamers provided music for dances for a number of years. Now for the past 10 years his ‘Golden Dreamers’ band plays regularly at Dunrovin Park Lodge, Maeford Place, Wildwood and Kersley Hall where two buses of seniors travel from Quesnel.
Both in their eighties, it is evident neither of them has let grass grow under their feet. They have led a full and productive life.
– submitted by
Ruth Scoullar.