Gilbert J. Doucette

Master Sergeant Gilbert J. Doucette USAF (retired) passed away peacefully on Dec. 5, 2011 at the age of 68 at Central Washington Hospital in Wenatchee following a sudden illness.

Gilbert was born on June 1, 1943 in Somerville, Mass., to Joseph Elmer Doucette and Marie Surette and grew up and attended school in Wilmington, Mass. Soon after high school he joined the United State Air Force in October 1960. Gilbert served with honor before he retired in January 1985. While spending most of his time in Germany as a Chief Geodetic Survey Technician for nine years and a Cartographic/Photogrammetric Technician (Mapper) for 15 years. Gilbert received many awards, ribbons and medals during his career before being honorably discharged from the USAF.

After retiring from the USAF he settled in Oroville where he met his long time partner of 20 years, Rosalie Ellis, before getting married Dec. 31, 2009. He was a member of the Oroville American Legion Post 84. His favorite hobbies were stamp collecting from all over the world, cooking, computers and spending time with his family and friends. He was not only our beloved son, husband, father, grandpa, uncle and friend, but a hero to our great nation and to all the knew him.

Gilbert was preceded in death by his father, Joseph Elmer Doucette of Wedgeport, N.S.; step-father, Sam Noble of Penticton, B.C.; brother-in-law, Roy Kennedy of Penticton, B.C. and sister and brother-in-law, Fern and Bill Hill from Kaslo, B.C.

Gil will be lovingly remembered and sadly missed by his mother, Marie Noble; Sister, Phyllis Kennedy both of Penticton, B.C.; wife, Rosalie Ellis of Oroville; daughters: Tara (Mitch) Hayes of Tucson, Ariz. and Kathleen (Terry) Pickrel of Tucson, Ariz.; granddaughter, Kaitlyn Pickrel; grandson, Ian Pickrel, all from Tucson, Ariz; stepdaughter, Kimberley Ellis; son-in-law, Mark Pellegrini; grandson, Blaine Pellegrini all from Oroville; aunt, Lucy Doucetter of Wedgeport, N.S.; brother-in-law, Bob Ellis; sister-in-law, Brenda Ellis of Oroville; brother-in-law, Richard Ellis; sister-in-law, Mary Ellis of Oroville; sister-in-law, Marge Turner of Oroville; nephew, Tim and Rhonda Scott of Penticton, B.C.; niece, Cheryl and John Jackson of Calgary, Alta. and many more nieces, nephews, family and friends.

There will be a gathering at a later date to remember Gilbert’s life with family and friends.

The Doucette family is being served by Neptune Society of Spokane, Wash.