Obituary of Douglas Edmond Factor

A wonderful husband, father, grandpa, uncle and friend passed away at home peacefully at the age of 90. Doug was born in Buffalo, NY but moved to Cheyenne WY at the age of 4 when his mother remarried. At the age of 14 he left home and supported himself working at Western Union while finishing high school. Right after graduation he married his first wife and they had 2 children. In the late 50's he enrolled in the General Motors Business School and advanced quickly. Shortly after, he was hired as business manager at Halliday Motors in Cheyenne. After his divorce, life was about to change; he met the love of his life, Pamela McEntire. Around that time, General Motors needed a business manager at a dealership in CA. Doug moved to Santa Cruz in 1961 and decided this little surf town would be a wonderful place to raise a family. In December of 1962 he married Pamela and moved her to Santa Cruz and called it home for the next 63 years, raising their 2 daughters and spending summers with his daughter and son from his previous marriage. Doug would later go on to become General Manager and then part owner of Don Starr Motors. After the sale of the dealership, he and longtime friend Charlie Allen opened Autoworld Sales & Rentals. Customers and employees often commented on what a kind and pleasant man he was to work with and work for. Doug owned and operated Autoworld until 2018. Doug believed in giving back to his community. He served on the Scotts Valley school board for 3 terms, serving as president twice. He also belonged to the Elks Lodge as well as Santa Cruz Rotary where he was honored with the Paul Harris Fellow recognition. Besides Basketball, snow and water-skiing Doug's passions were Rodeo and traveling in his motorhomes. Summers consisted of motor homing to Cheyenne for "Frontier Days” or all over Texas, Pam's home state. Later in life they would leave for months, traveling across the United States. Doug loved participating in his daughters’ high school sports and would be the transportation to and from games, meets and events. Many called the motorhome the "Factor Mobile" and he was honored with a lifetime pass to all Harbor High events. Doug was preceded in death by his father Benjamin Factor, mother Edith Factor, sister Margie Ramey, brother Barak Factor, and son Benny Factor. But his biggest loss was Pam, his wife of 52 years. He is survived by his daughters Terri Factor (Bill James) Stephanie Mayfield (Dan), Shama Ball (Jeremy), grandchildren Kyle & Bret Mayfield and Alethea & Kaden Ball, and many nieces and nephews. At Doug's request there will be no services. In remembrance of Doug’s life and love, the family asks that any charitable donations be made to Hospice of Scotts Valley.