Obituary - Douglas D. Church

Douglas D. (Doug) Church, 73, of Genesee, died Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2011, at Gritman Medical Center in Moscow.

Doug was born Jan. 1, 1938, at Moscow, to Donald and Martha Luvaas. He grew up and attended school in Moscow. After his father's death when he was 13, he was adopted by his stepfather, James Church. He finished high school and graduated in Los Angeles. He raced drag cars and founded Modern Specialists in Long Beach, which was noted for being the first Porsche and Volkswagen Service Center. He operated the business from 1957-1967. He married in 1956, divorcing in 1977.

Doug moved to Superior, Mont., and purchased a ranch. He enjoyed raising hay and cattle and experimented with cross-fencing and irrigation and was recognized for having the first self-producing cattle ranch in Mineral County. While in Superior he served on the school board. Doug moved to Moscow and went to work for Cay's Rock Crushing, and helped start Cay Manufacturing. He owned and operated Fab-Tec in Moscow, which has become one of the world's most renowned producers of rock-crushing and material handling equipment. He had semi-retired and devoted his time to his "Rockin' C Ranch" near Genesee. He attended Genesee Valley Lutheran Church. Doug married in Moscow in 1977 and divorced in 2010. Doug loved hot-rods, tinkering, Model A's, and his horses, donkeys and cattle.
Surviving are his sons and daughters-in-law; his daughter and son-in-law; his grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; as well as his stepchildren; along with four stepgrandchildren; and three stepgreat-grandchildren.

The funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at Short's Funeral Chapel in Moscow. Burial will follow at Bethany Memorial Cemetery near Kendrick. The family invites everyone to a celebration of life reception to begin at 3 p.m. Monday at the University Inn-Best Western.

The family suggests memorials be made to the Genesee Fire and Ambulance Fund.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Short's Funeral Chapel of Moscow, and online condolences may be sent to www.shortsfuneralchapel.net.

Lewiston Tribune, December 3, 2011, p. 5D
Transcribed by Jill Leonard Nock