Memorial Service Held For Cathedral City Fire Captain
Hundreds of people turned out today in Palm Springs to say goodbye to a 49-year-old Cathedral City fire captain, who died last week after undergoing surgery to remove a brain tumor.
Capt. Douglas Taylor was remembered by family members, friends and at least 300 public safety officials, including firefighters from San Diego, Laguna Beach and Orange County, the Desert Sun reported.
At today’s service at the Palm Springs Convention Center, which included an honor guard, colleagues told stories about Taylor and described him as a family man and dedicated firefighter.
“He always put family first,” Cathedral City fire Capt. Eric Hauser told the newspaper.
Taylor began working in Cathedral City in 1989 as a firefighter paramedic and was promoted to paramedic captain in 1994. He was assigned to Truck 412 at the Cathedral City fire headquarters station.
He also worked for the Riverside County Fire Department for three years.
Earlier this year, Taylor began complaining of headaches that turned out to be the result of a brain tumor. In March, he underwent surgery which left him incapacitated. He died last Friday under hospice care in Palm Desert.
He is survived by his wife, Shelby, and 11-year-old son, Garrett.
An education fund for his child has been established at the USA Federal Credit Union. Donations — with “education fund” written on the memo line of the check — can be dropped off or mailed to 41273 Margarita Road, Suite 101, Temecula, CA, 92591.
