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Jul 7, 2015
3:33:54pm
My BYU family has lost a son and former BYU cheer squad member.
img017_crop%20byu%20cheer_zps0z5xuodd.jp

Douglas Robert Holdaway
September 29, 1984 – June 24, 2015
One of the happiest days of my life was the day my first son was born. Douglas arrived a week early, which is fitting because he was always in a hurry to grow up and to experience life. I took him on his first Fathers and Sons campout when he was only 18 months old. When Doug was 9, he went with me to Havasupai Canyon with the young men from Church. I helped carry his backpack down to the campground, but he was proud that he was strong enough to carry his own pack ten miles back up to the top.
When he was 11, I took him to the High Sierras on a 50-mile backpacking trip. By then, Doug was strong enough to carry his own pack the whole way, even though some of the older boys needed help. We shared many other experiences, including hikes, campouts, whitewater rafting, hot air ballooning and scout camp. In 1997 he attended a ten-day trip and tour back East to the Boy Scout National Jamboree in Virginia.
Doug achieved the rank of Eagle Scout, which was one of many proud moments for his parents.
Doug loved all sports. He never had the finesse for tennis, where he mostly just tried to hit the ball as hard and as far as he could. He played basketball more like the defensive end he later became. Doug loved weight lifting, football and wrestling in high school, but he was prone to injury with concussions, dislocations, back pain and other setbacks. He played hard. Doug was one of the team captains and earned several scholar athlete awards and an MVP award.
Doug was always an excellent student. He graduated with a GPA > 4.0, earned membership in the National Honor Society and scored very highly on the ACT. There was no question that he would follow his great-grandparents, grandmother, parents and two older sisters to Brigham Young University. He had been well indoctrinated to love BYU (and BYU sports) from an early age. With his strong academic credentials, BYU actually recruited him. He was awarded an academic scholarship and started BYU when he was still 17.
Doug did everything at “Doug speed”, which is full speed ahead. That included socializing. He was always very confident with girls. With his good looks and personality, he never had trouble getting a date or making new friends. While he was at BYU one year, Doug was dating a girl who was trying out for the BYU cheer squad. She convinced him to help her practice her routine and to perform with her at the tryouts. He was strong enough to throw her high in the air, to catch her, and to hold her up with one hand high over his head. She taught him to perform a standing back flip. When the tryouts were completed, she didn’t make the squad. But Doug did. He cheered for BYU for two years and loved every minute. He especially enjoyed sprinting around the stadium carrying the BYU flag after a touchdown. Unfortunately, even in cheerleading Doug found a way to suffer another concussion and other injuries.
Doug took me down on the field during the homecoming game a couple of years ago. I kept thinking I would be kicked out by security, but at 6’3” and 225 lbs. Douglas always looked like he belonged out there with the players.
During college, Doug took up snowboarding, but only at Doug speed, straight down the mountain.
During some time off from college, Doug lived in Orange County, where he learned to surf. He always loved the ocean. From his earliest age he enjoyed boating, fishing, and visiting Catalina Island with his family.
Doug returned to BYU and ended up graduating on the same day as his youngest sister. This was a huge blessing to his parents. It was our dream that all five of our children would graduate from BYU.
Doug seemingly had the ability to succeed at anything he put his mind to. He had the grades and test scores for medical school, and we spent many hours together working on his applications, but health issues put that dream on hold.
He became a sales representative for Vivint, and later for Solar City. He loved meeting and helping people. Recently, he was promoted to a management position and was working to develop new markets in the Eastern part of the country.
In the last few years Doug had become an avid hunter and outdoorsman. Doug wanted to bag a big bear for a trophy and spent many hours in the mountains, often by himself. He found a measure of peace and tranquility in the beauty he found there. A year or so ago he convinced his me to go with him on a hunt up Azusa Canyon into the San Gabriel Mountains. We hiked for hours up a faint trail to a spot that had many signs of a bear. Doug found a concealed vantage point and began to use a bear call to attract the bear. I hid behind a tree some distance away, unarmed, and hoped that a bear would not come. I was never sure whether I was along just to serve as bait. Unfortunately, after a couple of hours of waiting, Doug’s back went into spasms and I ended up carrying Doug’s pack for him several miles back down to his truck. On a later trip Douglas was by himself when he bagged his first bear.
When his older sisters started having babies, Douglas became “Uncle Doug” and his kind, gentle side came out. He is adored by his nieces and nephew. His Doug Hugs got a little gentler.
Doug was a hard worker and was always willing to help his friends and family with any job, large or small. Doug was especially kind to his Grandma after my father passed away two years ago. He would often take her flowers or cook her dinner, and he always kept her laughing. Just a few months ago he came over with his girlfriend bringing live lobsters that he had caught for her himself.
Doug earned his Duty to God award and attended four years of early morning seminary. I loved to take him on home teaching visits to minister to those in need. Doug had a testimony of the Savior. He shared his beliefs with many people, but unfortunately he was unable to serve a mission in this life. He suffered the lingering effects of his many injuries. His back hurt, and he would often lie on the family room floor while his mother rubbed his back. He had trouble sleeping.
Doug had other ailments and heavy burdens that were not so apparent to the eye. Doug struggled with depression, which ultimately caused him to take his own life. He had sought medical treatment and other help to no avail. In the end he felt that he simply could not go on. I spoke with him on Father’s Day and expressed my love and appreciation for him, not knowing that I would never see him again in this life.
We were blessed to help carry Doug’s burdens at times in this life, and grateful that at other times he helped to carry our burdens. But ultimately, there is only One who has the power to take from our shoulders every possible mortal burden, including pain, illness, depression, sin and sorrow.
Douglas passed away on June 24, 2015 under tragic circumstances, but it is clear that a loving Father in Heaven reached out to him in miraculous ways even at the end. We are comforted by the knowledge that our prayers for Doug were answered, even if not in the way we had hoped.
The worst day of my life was the day I received that early morning phone call about my son. However, one of the best days was the day of his funeral, when we received such an outpouring of love and comfort that our broken hearts could finally begin to heal.
Douglas loved his family and his many friends. He will always be loved by them. Doug will be dearly missed, but never forgotten. His family shares the faith that Douglas will be with them again through the blessings of the temple and the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Doug’s coworkers have established a memorial fund which may be found at:
https://www.giveforward.com/fundraiser/14c9/doug-holdaway
We are also inviting donations in his name directly to the BYU Cheer Squad through LDS Philanthropies.
https://ldsphilanthropies.org/donations/byu/alumni/affinity-groups/cheer-squad.html
“These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33.
Thank you.
Richard E. Holdaway
June 30, 2015
This message has been modified
Originally posted on Jul 7, 2015 at 3:33:54pm
Message modified by Kaanapali on Jul 7, 2015 at 4:12:58pm
Message modified by Kaanapali on Jul 7, 2015 at 6:34:13pm
Message modified by Kaanapali on Jul 8, 2015 at 6:13:00pm
Message modified by Kaanapali on Sep 23, 2015 at 3:16:36pm
Kaanapali
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