Dougal L. Kear, Sr., 83, of Machias, NY, Former NYS Trooper, Whitesville, NY, Native

Dougal L. Kear

Dougal L. Kear, retired State trooper, Whitesville Native

Dougal L. Kear, Sr., 83, of Machias, NY, passed away on Friday (March 1, 2013) in Gowanda after a lengthy illness.

Kear was born on Sept. 23, 1929, in Whitesville, N.Y., to Ernest L. and Martha (Crittenden) Kear, the youngest of nine children. 

He graduated from Whitesville High School in 1947 then enlisted in the US Navy, where he served on aircraft carriers in the Pacific between Honolulu and San Diego, until his return to Whitesville. After the Navy, Kear drove a school bus and was a bus mechanic at Whitesville Central School.

In 1957, he was accepted and later graduated from the New York State Police Academy and became a state trooper with the New York State Police. During his 27-year career with the state police, he was stationed at Clarence, Franklinville, then Delevan, where he served as Station Commander for the new satellite station. His received many honors and acknowledgements for work while serving the people of the State of New York, including delivering a baby, helping to peacefully end a hostage situation, peacefully ending an armed robbery of a restaurant, and he also personally guarded Robert Redford and Joe Don Baker during the filming of The Natural in South Dayton. He annually looked forward to special duty at the New York State Fair in Syracuse, where he guarded and escorted several pop and country stars.

Following retirement in 1985, Kear was owner and operator of Dougal L. Kear Used Cars in Machias. He loved repairing and restoring old cars. He also spent the last 20-plus years of his life traveling between homes in Machias and at Outdoor Resorts in Clermont, Fla. 

He enjoyed traveling with his family; he especially loved traveling to historic and government sites and attending classic car shows. He had a large network of friends in both New York and Florida and enjoyed nightly card games. 

He also looked forward to driving annually in the Whitesville Memorial Day Parade. The final year was even more special as he drove a restored 1984 Dodge NYS Police Car, which was the year he retired and the final year of the old “blue and gold” color design. Kear was also a member of the American Legion.

Kear is survived by his wife of almost 50 years, Shirley (Hamblin) Kear, his daughter, Allison Kear, son, Dougal, Jr. (Angela) Kear, and his granddaughter Adriana, all now residing in Columbia, S.C. He is also survived by three sisters, Norma Rounds and Roberta (Donald) Kramer of Whitesville, and Dortha Krebs of Williamsville, N.Y., along with many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents; brothers, Cleon, Kenneth, Clair, and Donald (Link); and one sister, Donna Kailbourne. He is also predeceased by his first wife, Neva (Heckman) Kear, daughter, Sherry and sons, Tommy and Jeffrey, in 1958 due to carbon monoxide poisoning in their home in Whitesville while Kear was on the road working for the state police at the time of their death.

Visitation will be 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. on Thursday (March 28) at Babbitt & Easton Funeral Home in Franklinville, N.Y. A graveside service will be held on Saturday (May 25, 2013) at the Whitesville Rural Cemetery in Whitesville, N.Y.

In lieu of Flowers, memorials may be made in Dougal Kear, Sr.’s memory to: The NYS Trooper Foundation, 3 Airport Park Boulevard, Latham, New York 12110-1441 or Agapé Senior Foundation, 1053 Center Street, West Columbia SC 29169.