Douglas Gerald Sales, age 68, died on February 4, 2025, in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. He was born on December 9, 1956, in Pontiac, Michigan, to Permar and Juanita (King) Sales.
Doug grew up in lower Michigan, more specifically the Milford and Otisville Area. He began working at the young age of fourteen. He had many jobs from working at the Bloomfield Open Hunt Club, to working as a Ranger at Pine Knob. He met Lynne M. Johnson in 1976, and in 1978 the couple moved to Holtville, California, where they started their family. They eventually moved back to Michigan in 1978, where they married and continued growing their family. He worked with Jerry Katona Well Drilling Company until moving to Rudyard, Michigan, in 1985. He began working at Smithers Scientific Testing Track, where he tested tires for cars. He also began working for the Michigan Nature Association, as a botanist, where he surveyed and photographed rare and endangered plants. During this time, he was the caretaker of the “Autum Thunder Lodge” where he was a hunting guide who specialized in bear and deer hunting. Doug also helped train and show field trial English Setters.
Doug loved hunting, fishing, trapping, and living off the land. He also loved riding dirt bikes and operating heavy equipment as a young adult, yet no one can deny Doug's absolute passion was fishing; more specifically, trout fishing. He was an expert angular who had secret fishing spots from WaWa, Canada, to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, and as far south as Arkansas.
Doug is survived by his daughter, Lisa Marie (Timothy) Thompson of Rudyard; son, Bo Sales of Rudyard; grandchildren, Halaina E. Carrick, Emma M. Sales and Coraline A. Carrick; sisters, Jaunita “Joyce” Chang-Sales of White Lake, Michigan, and Faye Render of Howell, Michigan; brother, Gregg Sales of Gwinn, Michigan, and ex-wife, Lynne M. Sales-Martin of Cedarville, Michigan.
Doug was preceded in death by his parents, Permar and Juanita; son, Douglas Sales Jr.; sisters, Shirley (Jack) Taylor, Charlotte Sales, Leslie “Jean” Sales, and Rita Sales; brothers, “Bub” (Doris) Sales, Ray Sales, and Phil Sales; brothers-in-law, Darryl Chang and Tony Render.
A Memorial Service will be held in the spring of 2025 at the Milford Cemetery with a family gathering to follow at Joyce's.
Any donations would be greatly appreciated by the family.
Please show your help and support to your local and federal Parkinson's Disease and early on-set Dementia organizations.
Family Life Funeral Homes assisted the family with arrangements. Condolences may be left to the family at www.familylifefh.com.
Obituary as submitted by family.
