Dougless Hutchings

In Loving Memory of Dougless “Doogie” “Slimer” Fresh

July 27, 2007 – August 12, 2026

Dougless, Doogie, or Slimer, was loved by so many. He had a special presence about him everywhere he went. He had a way of touching the lives of everyone he met and leaving a little piece of himself with them. He was the kind of person you remembered, and the kind you were grateful to have known. He was just such a cool guy.

He was kind, generous, protective, funny, brave, and fearless. He genuinely loved helping people and doing things for those he cared about. He cherished his family and loved his friends fiercely. He was the protector of his mother and the savior of his sister, always ready to step in when someone he loved needed him.

Dougless was strong, athletic, determined, and endlessly curious. He loved learning new things, taking on challenges, and discovering what he was capable of. Most of all, he loved life, and he lived it fully. His life was filled with adventure, excitement, laughter, love, and the desire to experience everything he could. It is heartbreaking that a life lived with so much passion simply ran out far too quickly.

He was also a natural leader. Dougless had a way of seeing potential in people, sometimes before they could see it in themselves. He wanted to pull others up with him, encourage them, and show them what they were capable of becoming.

Of course, we can’t talk about Dougless without talking about what a little stinker he could be. He loved to lovingly terrorize all of us, tease us, push our buttons, and keep everyone on their toes. “Damn it, Dougless” was probably said more times than his actual name—and usually with a laugh, an eye roll, or both. He returned the look with a grin of satisfaction and evil laughter.

He loved to roughhouse with the kids, tossing them around while their shrieks of excitement and laughter filled the air. The more they squealed, the more fun he had. They knew when Dougless was around, there was a good chance things were about to get a little wild—and they loved every second of it.

He gave the best hugs—the kind that made you feel loved, protected, important, tiny, and squished.

Dougless leaves behind a tremendous absence, but he also leaves behind something much bigger than the short number of years he was given. He leaves behind the people he protected, the friends he encouraged, the family he cherished, the lives he touched—and even lives he helped save. He leaves behind laughter, stories, adventures, lessons, and an extraordinary amount of love.

His life reminds us that the value of a life cannot simply be measured by its length, but by how completely it was lived and how deeply it affected others.

So, in honor of Dougless:

Live your life with adventure.

Live it with excitement.

Live it with courage and a little bit of thrill.

Help people. Protect the people you love.

Lift others up and remind them of their potential.

Give great hugs. Laugh often. Be a little bit of a stinker.

And above all, live fully.

Do it for Doogie.

His life ended far too soon, but the love he gave, the lives he touched, and the memories he created will continue through everyone who had the privilege of knowing and loving him.

A picnic gathering will take place following services. The location will be announced at the end of the funeral service.