October 9, 1921 - January 24, 2020
Douglas Pennington Cookson was born in Winnipeg to John Pennington Cookson and Jean Elizabeth Shephard Cookson on October 9, 1921 and later grew up in Regina, SK. Doug was predeceased by his wife of 56 years Doreen Patricia Cookson (nee Parker) and his three siblings and their spouses including John Alexander Shephard Cookson (Laura), William Robert Lundy Cookson and Beatrice Jean Hugh (Tom), as well as Pat's six sisters and one brother and their spouses.
As a youngster, Doug contributed to the family's income with a newspaper route, then by playing music at a skating rink. Later, Doug and Bill ran a Saturday night dance for friends by broadcasting music with a phonograph wired to various speakers. This music was also picked up by neighbours. After being closed down due to it being deemed an illegal radio station, a neighbour complained to Doug's mother that she could no longer find her favourite radio station that played the best dance music on Saturday night.
As an adult, Doug worked for Imperial Oil for over 20 years and later Prairie Nurseries in Estevan, SK. Doug and his brother-in-law Jerry Swallow owned Artlite Studios and KPA Printers in Kamloops BC. Doug finished his entrepreneurial career with his own print brokerage firm.
Doug met Pat Parker, a student nurse at Regina General Hospital on a blind date, thanks to his aunt, Ann Cordingly, a supervisor of the nurses' residence. Doug would marry Pat in 1952. Doug and Pat had three children, Penny (Mario), Cate (David) and Jim who were born in Estevan and later grew up in Kamloops. Doug is survived by his children and grandchildren: Russell Bissett (Kristen), Tricia Higgins (James), Bryan Cookson, Clara Cookson and great grandchildren: Cate and JD Higgins and Violet and Myles Bissett and Christine Cookson, Clara and Bryan's Mom.