Douglas Arthur Covell, 76, of Bradenton, Florida, formerly of Traverse City, passed away at his home in Bradenton Monday, May 9, 2022. He was born in Trenton, New Jersey, on January 7, 1946, the firstborn son of Arthur L. And Mary E. (Fink) Covell.

He spent his early years in Trenton, but as the son of a pastor he became accustomed to moving along with the family to various other communities, coming first to Coldwater, Michigan, as a teenager. He was a graduate of Shenandoah Valley Academy in New Market, Virginia, and attended Lansing Community College and Michigan State University. Finally, he was a graduate of the Wisconsin Institute of Mortuary Science where he completed his training for a profession that he aspired to from his early teens. He never had a doubt about what some might think of as an unusual career choice. Upon receiving his Michigan License to Practice Mortuary Science, he was employed at the Brown Funeral Home, in Flint, Michigan, and later the Reigle Funeral Home, also in Flint. He and his first wife, the former Doris Allen, who was also a licensed funeral director whom he met in Wisconsin, moved to Traverse City to take a position as Licensed Funeral Directors at the Martinson Funeral Home on State Street. Mr. Lance Martinson who was the owner of the funeral home was near retirement at that time and in 1973, they purchased the funeral home. He practiced there for several years under the name of Martinson-Covell Funeral Home. Some years later he purchased the former Dockery-Wilhelm-Smith Funeral Home, in Elk Rapids, and then operated both funeral homes under the name of Covell Funeral Homes, Traverse City, and Elk Rapids, retiring in 1997 when he and his second wife, the former Cheryl Papp moved to Holmes Beach, Florida.

Not really ready for total retirement, he then received his License to Practice Mortuary Science in the State of Florida after which he opened the Covell Funeral Home in Bradenton which he and his son Cassidy Covell have operated to this day.

Surviving are: his daughter, Nikole (Paul) Channels of Hudson, MI; his son Cassidy (Rosa) Covell of Ellenton, FL; grandsons, Ben and Mark Channels; granddaughters, Morgan Channels and Anna Covell; one brother, Dennis (Ann) Covell of Kingsley, MI; nephews, David Covell, Daniel (Natali) Covell, Thomas (Patrice) Stebner, and Kenneth (Brooke) Stebner.

He was preceded in death by: his first wife, Doris; his second wife, Cheryl; his parents; and one sister, Debra Poston.

A funeral service will be held at the Covell Funeral Home, in Bradenton, Florida, on Saturday, May 14, 2022 4 pm. Friends may call Saturday from 2 PM until time of service.

Funeral services will also be conducted at 1:00 PM, Thursday, May 19, 2022, at Beacon Cremation & Funeral Service, Covell-Traverse City Chapel, with Pastor Colleen Wierman officiating.  Interment will follow in Barnum Memorial Cemetery in Mayfield.  Visitation will be held from 11:00 AM until time of services at the funeral home.

Beacon Cremation & Funeral Service, Covell-Traverse City Chapel, is in charge of arrangements.

www.beaconfh.com