April 07, 1937 - November 26, 2023
Harlan Dale Douglass Obituary
Harlan Dale Douglass passed peacefully in his home on November 26, 2023 surrounded by his family?
Harlan was born April 7, 1937, in the small town of Mason City, WA. He was the only child of Harold J. and Elma C. Douglass. His father?s work pouring concrete brought the Douglass family to Spokane where Harlan Learned firsthand the meaning of hard work. Harold taught Harlan from a young age the inner workings of business and lit a fire for business in Harlan that led him to become one of the most successful landowners and developers in Spokane.
Harlan graduated from Rogers High School in 1956 and in 1957, he built his first two homes. That same year, Vern and Mary Ziegler set Harlan up on a blind date with Maxine Darlene Hilby. After a yearlong courtship, Harlan and Maxine were married on November 14, 1959. Soon after, they started a family and Maxine was busy with three small children. Once their children were older, Maxine joined Harlan in the office, and the two became a powerful force in the world of property development and management.
Harlan was very competitive and enjoyed playing several sports. As an athlete, he played basketball, softball and competed in triathlons, even making it to the Kona Ironman, but never getting the chance to compete due to an accident while training in Hawaii. His love of sports made him a big fan of Gonzaga basketball and WSU and EWU football.
Harlan had an incredible instinct for business and development. He saw the untapped potential of Spokane and seemed to be able to anticipate its growth. Harlan was a visionary for what Spokane could become, bringing many businesses to the city like Wendy?s, 7-Eleven and Eagle Hardware.
For several years he was president of the Home Builder?s Association. His knowledge and understanding of business led him to become a Founding Member for the Bank of Spokane and Inland NW Bank.
In his own dealings, Harlan was known as a tenacious businessman and a ruthless negotiator. He thrived on the art of the deal and was never one to be soft spoken or afraid to speak his mind. He had a hunger to learn and a willingness to listen to anyone who could broaden his understanding.
Over the span of his life, Harlan became one of Spokane?s most prominent developers including homes, commercial buildings, and self-storage facilities. His ambition and resilience live on in the way he forever shaped the landscape of Spokane.
His homes, apartments, and buildings stand as monuments to the man who changed a city.
Harlan was preceded in death by Maxine Douglass and is survived by his three children, Harley (Lisa), Stacey (Jeff) Boies, and Lanzce (Darla),
Eight grandchildren: Hayden, Morgan, Payton, Hunter, Wyatt, Mayson, Avery, Addison and one great grandchild, Quinn. His partner and friend Jerri Via.
A viewing for Harlan will be held Tuesday, December 5, 2023, 1:00pm to 7:00pm at Heritage Funeral Home and Crematory 508 N Government Way, Spokane.
The funeral service for Harlan will be held Wednesday, December 6, 2023, 12:00pm to 1:30pm at The McCarthey Athletic Center 801 N Cincinnati St, Spokane.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Humane Society, Scraps or Hospice of Spokane.
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