Obituary of Douglas Bradley Shrum

Douglas Bradley Shrum, 48, was born in Santa Barbara, California on January 15, 1965 and baptized at Trinity Lutheran Church in Paso Robles, California. Doug was a member of Emanuel Lutheran Church in Santa Barbara and later Trinity Lutheran in Olympia, Washington. All of his schooling was in Santa Barbara and he graduated from San Marcos High School in 1983. During the summer months of his high school years, he worked in an auto repair shop, specializing in Volkswagens. The mechanical skills he learned stood him in good stead when he went to work for a local machine shop. It was there Doug developed his love of machining. Doug took an early interest in law enforcement. In 1987, he applied and was accepted by the Tulare County Sheriff’s Department in the San Joaquin Valley of California. After his academy training, he was assigned to a local high school as an undercover officer investigating illegal use of narcotics. He was able to develop several cases that ultimately lead to successful prosecutions. When that program was completed, he was transferred to the county jail where he had the opportunity to experience human nature in its basic form. Following his jail assignment, he was rewarded with the assignment to a geographical area (beat) within the county. He remained in that capacity until his father’s retirement from the Santa Barbara Police Department was drawing near. He applied for the SBPD in 1989 and was sworn in as a probationary officer by his father. Doug was an active motorcycle rider. His interest was stimulated while still in high school and continued up to a few months before his death. While he enjoyed getting out by himself, he especially took delight in riding with a group, whether on a day trip or overnight camp trips. He looked forward to the annual “Sierra Run” with his Santa Barbara police friends, exploring the various mountain passes and campgrounds in the Sierra Nevada mountains. In 1992, Doug applied and was accepted as an officer with the Tumwater Police Department in March 1992. He moved to Olympia and settled in with his new job. He became a member of Trinity Lutheran Church and once again volunteered to work as a trustee, much in the same manner as with Emanuel Lutheran, his previous congregation in Santa Barbara. Doug worked various assignments with the Tumwater police department and rose to the rank of lieutenant. Due to a medical condition, he retired from the police department in September 2005 and concentrated his interest with his garage machine shop and motorcycle maintenance. Doug and his wife, KelliAnn, had known each prior to their marriage and, during that time, he introduced her to motorcycle riding. Prior to their marriage he would transport her around in one of his motorcycles having a side car. Later they would use that same rig to explore the area in a more comfortable fashion. His failing health caused him to give up the motorcycles, as well as the tooling in his machine shop. Doug truly delighted in those two passions! Doug suffered from the blood disease leukemia and it took a toll. His last year was especially trying. He spent time between the hospital and a convalescent home, returning to the hospital every ten days or so for platelet and blood transfusions. Finally, his heart gave out and the Lord God called Doug home to be with Him on the 5th of May, 2013 Your smile and chuckle will be missed. Goodbye dear husband, friend, buddy, brother and son! Keep those motorcycles running and we will someday be with you in Paradise, sharing in the wonderful glories our Father God is now sharing with you and someday will share with us as well. Doug is survived by his devoted wife KelliAnn of Olympia, his parents Bart and Sue Shrum, Lacey, his sister Lorraine Todd, Seattle, his niece Amy Talmadge, her husband Luke and their three year old son Holden, all of Olympia. It was Doug’s wish that his ashes be scattered in Santa Barbara, California, the town he grew up in and where he had some of his fondest memories. A celebration of life service will be held at Faith Lutheran Church, 7075 Pacific Ave. SE, Lacey, Washington beginning at 2:00 PM on Saturday 1 June 2013. In lieu of flowers, you may wish to donate to the St. Peter Hospital Regional Cancer Center or Faith Lutheran Church Parochial School. Please leave your remembrances in the guestbook below.