October 15, 1919, to February 24, 2017

Douglas was born October 17, 1919 in Vancouver BC. He lived on East Broadway with his parents Robert and Amelia (Woodvine) Hunter and later his brother Stanley (1923). Doug was a bright, ambitious and adventurous young man who excelled at school. In 1933, he moved with his father and brother to Two Mile, just outside of Hazelton, BC, where they lived on the farm of Ed and Grandma Sweet. Doug attended school by correspondence, walking two miles into town to do his schoolwork and then home to chores and homework by kerosene lamp light. Doug was greatly influenced by this period of his life. 
After high school, Doug attended UBC where he earned his Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture majoring in animal husbandry and pre-med. He worked in a variety of jobs to pay for his education: as a night watchman at the Silver Standard mine, in the meat-cutting department of Woodward’s food floor, at the mill in Ocean Falls, as a riveters assistant in the hulls of ships, and later as a hotel waiter in Montreal. In 1943, Doug moved to Montreal to begin Medical school at McGill University. He was an eager young fellow, short on money but with great ambitions. He boarded in the home of Roy and Betty Wilson where he became like family and stayed until he left Montreal. The Wilsons introduced Doug to sailing, skiing and Gilbert and Sullivan Operettas. 
After completing medical school, Doug took an internship and residency at L’Hôpital des Anciens Combattants de la Reine Mary (Queen Mary Veterans Hospital) in Montreal. It was while working at the hospital that he fell in love with Elizabeth Harris a beautiful Occupational Therapist. The two married in 1949 and moved to Ontario. Lib and Doug created a wonderful life together. They shared a mutual love of canoeing, camping, skiing, nature, music, dancing, poetry and adventure. Doug’s medical career took them to a number of Ontario communities, while also beginning their family. In 1956, Doug went on to specialise in psychiatry, which he completed in 1958. The family continued to grow and in 1964, Doug and Lib moved west. Never choosing the easy path, they packed their station wagon with eight children and one on the way, a dog, a cat, three canoes, and hauling a trailer full of camping gear headed to Kamloops BC. 
In 1964, Doug Hunter was a pioneer in psychiatry. He was the first psychiatrist in BC’s Interior. His practice included working with adults and children, and he believed strongly in treating patients where they could be close to their families. Dr. Hunter established 1-South, the psychiatric unit of Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops and continued to practice there until his retirement in 1987. Throughout his medical career, Dad took August off to spend with his family canoeing and camping in parks and lakes, at the cabin on Shuswap Lake, hiking in the Rockies or racing the Enterprise. Winters were mostly spent skiing at Tod Mountain and Silver Star. A car full of Hunters and yet Dad would stop to fill empty spaces with more skiers needing a ride.
Open to new adventure, Doug and Lib purchased Twin Creeks Ranch in Upper Hat Creek in 1974. Dad divided his time between ranching and psychiatry making the two-hour drive to Kamloops regularly. He became ‘Doc’ to the neighbours and earned their respect as he wholeheartedly threw himself into every aspect of ranch life. There was always something going on at the ‘Hunter place’- branding parties, riding the range, picking rocks, stacking hay, feeding cattle, May pole dances, skating on the pond, tobogganing, cross country skiing or flying kites in the fields, and an amazing sauna by the frozen creek. Doug and Lib made their ranch a place where visitors were welcome and most often put to work. People came from all over to enjoy the beauty of the valley and experience ranch life. In 1993, Doug and Lib retired and returned to Kamloops where they continued to walk, cross-country ski, canoe, square dance and enjoy their growing family. 
One of Dad’s greatest achievements was discovering his sister Joan in late 1990’s, and building a close relationship between her, his brother Stan and himself. Together the three established two scholarships at Thompson Rivers University, a tribute to their mother’s struggle with mental illness. 
Dad loved life and pursued new interests enthusiastically. Over the years he learned to downhill ski, sail, canoe, hike, build sabots, build a cabin, play the recorder and harmonica, grow tomatoes, round dance, square dance, cross country ski, build rock walls and appreciate the First Nations’ art, history and culture. He was always eager to try making things from homegrown products; bacon, sausages, yoghurt, cheese, butter, roasted barley, wine, beer/root beer, ice cream, and turkey seasoning from wild sage. Doug was an avid reader and learner. His interests included Canadian and Arctic exploration, pioneers- male and female, history of BC and the Cariboo, poetry, artists such as Emily Carr, and lots of music- folk songs, bagpipes, operettas, and more. But he was most proud of his family. Until the end, he lit up when a young child entered his presence. He continued to love his wife and admire her beauty and was always interested in his children and their spouses, his grandchildren and his great-grandchildren. He kept a loving relationship with his brother and sister. Dad enjoyed a family gathering. He was happy to “have enough people for a square” or an excuse for everyone to come together for dinner. His last days were spent with his family around him, singing, reciting poetry and visiting. 
In May, Doug lost his brother Stan and then in November his beloved Lib and in February his brother-in-law Lorne. Despite this, he never stopped appreciating his good fortune. As he wisely said, “We are privileged to be able to be happy.” 
Doug is survived by his sister Joan Adams, his children Helen (Rick), Robert (Ann-Marie), Chris (Marilynn), Richard (Susan), Paul (Jennifer), Mary (Bruce), Martha (Mark), Cynthia, Patricia (Luciano), 16 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. Our family would like to thank the staff at Kamloops Seniors Village, Ponderosa Lodge, Ridgeview Lodge and Dr. Wynne for caring for our parents in their final years and days. We are especially grateful to Doreen Johnson for her gentle care and companionship for Mum and Dad. Please join us for a celebration of Doug’s life on Saturday, April 1, 2017, at 2 pm at the Kamloops Yacht Club. In memory of Dad, donations can be made to the Amelia Woodvine Hunter Scholarship at Thompson Rivers University. Take a walk, sing aloud or read a good book and “Enjoy!”

Arrangements under the direction of First Memorial Funeral Service, Kamloops, British Columbia.

Condolences may be expressed at www.firstmemorialkamloops.com

• Date : 2017-02-24
• Location : Kamloops, B.C.