ROCKLAND — Douglas L. Gerrish, 84, died peacefully, surrounded by his family, April 7, 2013, at his home.

Born in Portland Oct. 26, 1928, he was the son of Harry and Bertha Crockett Gerrish. Growing up in Stonington until age 6, he moved with his family to Rockland where he attended local schools, graduating from Rockland High School.

Following high school, he attended Becker College in Worcester, Mass., until transferring to New Hampshire College in Manchester, N.H. While working in Massachusetts, Doug met Sue Ellen Tucker on a blind date set up by a friend. Sue agreed to go out with him, even after he had the nerve to call her at work and ask her out. The pair dated, continuing their courtship thorough written correspondence when Doug was drafted into the U.S. Army during the Korean conflict.

Believing he was being sent to Korea with many other young men from Rockland, he was surprised when he landed in Iceland and served his tour there. After being honorably discharged in 1952, Doug and Sue were married Oct. 24, 1953. Together they worked at the family store, Carroll Cut Rate. Upon the close of that store, Doug worked for a brief time for Mammoth Mart in Augusta. Deciding it was time to work for himself, Doug opened Doug's Gift Shop in the Mammoth Mart Plaza in the 1960s. Working with his wife, the store later moved to Main Street, where it became a local fixture for many years.

An avid baseball fan, he began his love of the game while playing in high school. Throughout his life he has remained active in the sport, and was instrumental in the Rockland Little League program, attending conferences all over the country, most notably to Houston, Texas, after the construction of the Astrodome. He was also an avid Red Sox fan and never missed a game on TV and he enjoyed attending a few games each year at Fenway Park with his Army buddies.

As a young man he worked at the Samoset Hotel selling newspapers at a newsstand. His wife remembered he made many lasting friendships with the guests who spent the entire summer at the hotel.

Doug and Sue enjoyed raising their family at their home on Samoset Road. Sue said they greatly enjoyed the camaraderie of the local families in the neighborhood. They all looked out for each other and watched each others' children grow up. The Gerrish's remained in their home after their children were grown, and were sleeping soundly the night of April 16, 1996, when the ground began to shake beneath them. Although they lost half of their home and yard, Doug managed to save two vehicles and assisted the firefighters in notifying the neighbor next door before her home was completely consumed by the landslide. Following those events, Doug and Sue relocated to Pen Bay Acres, where they became part of the neighborhood.

Continuing to be active in the community, Doug was most recently a member of the Rockland Lions Club and the Kora Shrine Temple.

Doug is survived by his wife of 60 years, Sue Ellen Gerrish of Rockland; his sons, James Gerrish and his wife, Beth, of Jacksonville, Fla., and Scott Gerrish and his wife, Debbie, of Allentown, N.H.; his daughter, Marjorie "Margie" Gerrish of Warren; his grandchildren, Joshua Gerrish and his wife, Belle, of Hawaii and Dr. Jennifer Gerrish and her fiancé, Tom Caldwell, of Philadelphia, Pa., Kate Dennison and her husband, Ryan, of Warren, and Steven Gerrish, Melissa Gerrish and Matthew Gerrish, all of Allentown, N.H.; and great-grandchildren, Zackery, Brianne and Emma Gerrish, and Abigail Dennison.

A graveside service was held April 10 at the Jewish Cemetery on Route 73 in Owls Head.

To share a memory or condolence with Doug's family, visit his Book of Memories at www.bchfh.com.

Arrangements are in the care of Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home in Rockland.