Douglas Pray Tassie, 84, of Oak Harbor, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2010, at Careage of Whidbey.

Mr. Tassie was born in Mountain Lake Park, Md., on Dec. 31, 1925, to Clifford and Leola Tassie. Doug was afflicted with poliomyelitis from the age of three, and moved throughout life with the assistance of either crutches or, more recently, a motorized wheelchair. He lived for many years in Vermont and graduated from high school in Hardwick.

After graduation, Doug worked with his brother Bert in a logging camp where he was employed as a cook. He attended Wentworth Institute in Boston, where he studied mechanical drawing. He was hired by General Electric in Burlington, Vt., and was employed there for 30 years until his retirement in 1991. In that location, the company made armaments. Doug had 31 patents on various weapons systems, and was given awards for his efforts on behalf of GE.

Doug married Allison Marie Peabody on Aug. 25, 1956. Following Doug’s retirement, the couple moved to Oak Harbor in 1991. Allison passed away on March 6, 1992. Doug married Gladys Nokes on March 20, 1999.

Doug had a significant interest in people suffering from post-polio syndrome, and he and Gladys formed a support group, both to provide assistance for those suffering from the disease, and as an education outreach for physicians needing information on the subject. He was very active and interested in current events, and served as a selectman (city councilman) for the town of St. George, Vt. He also served as a school board member in that area for a number of years.

Doug is survived by his wife Gladys, at home in Oak Harbor; two children, Cliff Tassie (Brenda) of Port Angeles and Leola Tassie Parke (Steve) of Tennessee; six grandchildren, Kristen, Brian and Joshua Parke and Elizabeth, James and Christian Tassie; three step-sons, Charlie Nokes (Mary) of Bremerton, George Strader (Jayne) of Port Orchard and Gary Strader (Deena) of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho; also by several nieces and nephews and other relatives. In addition to his first wife, Allison, he was preceded in death by two brothers, Bert and Bud Tassie.

A Graveside Service will take place on Saturday, Feb. 27, at 2:30 p.m., at Maple Leaf Cemetery followed by a Memorial Service at Oak Harbor Church of the Nazarene, 1100 W. Whidbey Ave., at 4 p.m., Dr. Benjamin Norris officiating. Memorials are suggested to Nazarene Compassionate Ministries, 12351 W. 96th Terrace, Suite 100, Lenexa, KS 66220, or to Pregnancy Care Clinic, 670 SE Midway Blvd., Oak Harbor, WA 98277. Family and friends may sign the guest register at www.whidbeymemorial.com.