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In the Pipeline: Locals share memories of late ‘Beverly Hillbillies’ star Donna Douglas

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I never got to meet her, but it wasn’t for lack of trying. When my family first moved to Huntington Beach in 1999, we were picking our mail up at a mailbox service. One of my first days there, I was making small talk with the guy behind the counter, and he said, “Do you know who walked out of here right before you came in?”

“No. Who?” I asked.

“Donna Douglas,” he said.

Throughout the 1960s and ‘70s, certain women on television turned young guys’ heads every week: Ginger and Mary Ann from “Gilligan’s Island,” Marilyn from “The Munsters” and later Marcia Brady from the “The Brady Bunch.”

But for me, none was more appealing than Elly May Clampett from “The Beverly Hillbillies,” actress Donna Douglas.

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Maybe it’s because she was so different from the others. She was a country girl, she was a tomboy and she loved animals. I mean, critters.

She also was fresh-faced, beautiful and seemingly innocent and refreshingly naïve in a cynical and often selfish modern TV world.

It isn’t like Douglas never created other memorable characters. She was terrific in the classic “Twilight Zone” episode “Eye of the Beholder.” She also was very good in the 1961 Rock Hudson and Doris Day film “Lover Come Back.” Many remember her from the 1966 Elvis Presley film “Frankie and Johnny.”

But no doubt she is remembered best for her role as Elly May. After the series ended, Douglas performed as a gospel singer, wrote a children’s book and published a cookbook. She also moved to Huntington Beach in the mid-1980s, though I had no idea until our mail guy told me.

So, of course, whenever I went for the mail, I secretly hoped she might be arriving at the same time so I could hold the door for her. Or simply thank her for her work over the years. But I never got the chance.

As far as I can tell, she moved back home to Louisiana in the early 2000s, and that’s where she passed away last week at age 82.

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A couple friends of mine shared anecdotes about her:

Rick Martin told me: “I worked at the Warner post office from November 1988 to January 2003. In the last five years or so, I remember Donna pulling up to the back dock to the bulk mail area and bringing mail to be sent out, possibly fan mail, and she would drop them off and do her business but then come in the back, which was not allowed to the average customer. Visiting us, she’d also hug anyone that was walking by or accepted a hug from anyone that knew who she was.

“Donna always brought something, whether it be goodies to eat, some boxes of chocolate and even wrapped candy and small gifts at Christmas. Donna beamed with God’s love, and with her smile and giggles always made our day. It felt like we were overseas in the service and our beautiful celebrity was caring enough to come in with gifts and thank us for our service. Donna always looked beautiful like a classy star with a glowing smile, and her sweet Southern-charm accent always made our day. And after Donna hugged anyone, she would say ‘God bless you.’

“This world lost a true treasure.”

Darryl Cadiente shared: “I worked at the Hughes Market in Huntington Harbour from the mid-’80s to the late ‘90s. I would see Ms. Douglas shopping, and she was unmistakably Donna Douglas, as I had had a crush on her while growing up, from ‘The Beverly Hillbillies’ to ‘Frankie and Johnny’ to ‘The Twilight Zone.’ No one had to point out who she was. She just ‘was.’ Although I would have loved to have seen her in capri jeans and flannel, tied at the waist as Elly, she was always dressed as “formal Elly,” in lace dresses with bows in her hair.

“It was a small neighborhood store where we knew everyone and took care of everyone, so no one bugged her, just let her be herself. She was always gracious and classy. She’d shop in the early afternoon, before it got crowded, and there were a couple different checkers who she had developed a relationship with, who would open a line for her. She never asked, and it was something we’d do for any of our regulars if we had a chance. Again, she never put on airs, but we took care of her because she was a nice lady who happened to be Elly May Clampett.”

Did you know Douglas when she lived here? If so, I’d love to hear your recollections so I might get them to her family. Then they might get an idea of what her life was like in Huntington Beach and what she meant to people.

I recently passed my old mail place in the Huntington Harbour Mall and pictured Douglas there. Now I’m going to sit down and watch an old “Beverly Hillbillies” episode.

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Donna Douglas, RIP.

CHRIS EPTING is the author of 25 books, including “Huntington Beach Chronicles: The Heart of Surf City.” You can chat with him on Twitter @chrisepting or follow his column at facebook.com/hbindependent.

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