CRESCENT BAR — Crescent Bar resident Doug Caton, who has been a community leader for Crescent Bar Island leaseholders in their suit against Grant County PUD, was found dead Monday morning in his car, an apparent victim of a heart attack.

Caton, 61, was found slumped over the wheel of his vehicle,  which had gone off the road about two minutes from his family's East Wenatchee home, according to his wife Nancy.

Passersby called 9-1-1 and attempted to revive Caton, then gave way to emergency responders as they arrived. Caton apparently died before his car went off the road from a heart attack or other medical condition, police said. Nancy believes he was working out at a gym before starting the drive home.

Caton and his family had a park model mobile home in North Park on Crescent Bar Island. He was well-known in the community and participated in most, if not all events. He was a spokesman for island leaseholders even before the lawsuit.

“Doug was one of the most dedicated and hard working board members that I have served with,” said former North Park RV home owners association board member Margaret Linder, who was stunned at the  news of his death.

When the PUD ordered the residents to be off the island by this March 31, the islanders turned to a lawsuit. They seek to be granted extended leases or be paid damages if they must leave. Caton was leading once again as a member of the islanders' lease committee.

“I am not too sure if we would be where we are with the lawsuit with the PUD if it hadn't been for Doug as our spokesperson and his leadership skills,” Linder said.

“On a personal level,” Linder added, “Doug always took time to listen and re-assure me about concerns and questions I would have as a board member. My husband Bob's and my prayers go out to Nancy and his family.”

More than leading the residents or winning a lawsuit, Caton, who had been a Boeing Co. consultant, simply wanted to retain a right to reside at and enjoy Crescent Bar.

“My dad had one thing on his mind all of the time, and that was Crescent Bar Resort,” his grief-stricken 15-year-old daughter Veronica said. “He loved that place so much, he was willing to fight for it, and that is exactly what he did. His worst nightmare would be all his friends and family having to move out of there.”

Veronica was raised on Crescent Bar part of the time. She was one year old when her parents secured a lease in 1997, and there is no place she'd rather spend her summers.

“That house is where I grew up half of the time, and where my mom and dad loved to spend their time,” she said. “Some people that we met there when we bought a place, are still our friends to this day. The memories that place carries are amazing. There's not one day when you wake up and think, 'I don't want to be here.'"

“Dad would rather be at Crescent bar than in Mexico or Hawaii,” Veronica added. “To him, Crescent bar was his amazing dream place and always will be.”