November 4, 1934 – May 27, 2025
We have lost our beloved friend, mom, wife, and Island spirit.
Dorothy was born in Cle Elum and moved shortly to Spokane. She graduated from Lewis and Clark High School.
Her wonderful daughters Jody and Shelly were the gift of her first marriage. After 10 years of marriage, she divorced and became a key punch operator for IBM in Seattle. In 1964 she met the love of her life, Robert “Bob” Patton, a reserve officer after a career as a pilot in the Navy, and a dashing and charming architect. After three years of friendship, they were married in 1967. Bob and Dorothy blended her family with Bob’s girls, Bryn and Tahle.
Bob got a tenure track position at WSU in Pullman. He became a full professor, and later, chair. Dorothy embraced the college life and first worked for the YMCA, later becoming the admin for the student activities center. With her wit, humor and beauty she became a favorite of the students. Bob and Dorothy made close lifetime friends in Pullman, with annual gatherings every year after they moved to Orcas.
They spent the summers on Orcas, with Bryn and Tahle joining them from their winter life with their mom in Oregon. The family shared a modest shed roof cabin on the land that Bob’s great grandfather bought from the homesteader. Bob and Dorothy worked hard to improve the land and make a home on the Island. After 25 years in Pullman, they moved to Orcas full time and, together, built the cottage into a beautiful house designed, of course by Bob. The kids enjoyed having their Uncle Harry Patton’s family with their five cousins on the adjacent land. There are many fond memories of beach fires and kick the can with the families.
Dorothy became legend for her green thumb. Her gorgeous gardens were colorful, lush and thriving. Her favorite place was outdoors, digging, planting, watering, and growing an array of plants and flowers. She loved travelling, taking many trips at home and abroad. She was always walking. Not many folks on the island didn’t drive by without a honk, wave or stopping for a chat. She spent many years exercising at Pam’s Power Hour, engaging with a dear group of friends, a perfect combination of work out, gossip and current events.
Dorothy will be sorely missed by her husband of 58 years, Bob, her daughters Jody and Shelley, her stepdaughters Bryn and Tahle, her grandchildren Makkena, Cortland, Hunter, Haley, Nicole, Anthony, and her great grandchildren Charlie, Simone, RJ, Catalina, Luciano, Iris.
A memorial will be held at 2 p.m. on Aug. 9 at The Doe Bay Firehouse and Community Center. All are welcome.
