Jake Doty

On Sunday, July 16, 2023, Jake Doty lost his short battle with cancer at the age of 79 in Puyallup, Washington.

Jake is survived by his wife of 57 years, Susie and his three children. Jay and his wife Jessica of Wilkeson, WA. Daughter Joy and husband Kelly of Carbonado, WA. Daughter Jill and husband Jason, of South Prairie WA.   and four Grandchildren Ethan, Gavin, Zada and Kaden.

Jake was born in Tacoma, WA to Leo and Grace Doty on May 22, 1944. They returned home to Ashford, WA with their little boy named Harry Lee Doty but Grace won the name battle by calling her son Jake. They moved to South Prairie, WA. Four years later the family started Doty’s Egg Farm. Jake attended school at the White River School District and graduated in 1962. Jake attended Yakima Valley College, where he met his best friend Ed. Jake invited Ed home for Thanksgiving dinner with the family in 1962, and the rest was history. They were lifelong friends from that day forward. After college he returned home to take care of the farm with his father.

At age 18 Jake joined the South Prairie Volunteer Fire Department, which ended up becoming his lifelong passion.

In the fall of 1965 is when Jake and Susie had their first date on October 1. They married on June 18, 1966. The two spent very little time apart from that day forward.

Jake and Susie started their family in 1969 with the birth of Jay with Joy following shortly after in 1972. With the passing of his father Leo in 1974 , the farm was fully under the care of Jake. He decided that the 24/7 farm life wasn’t for him and he enrolled in the Green River College Welding program. Jake took jobs at Boeing and National Blower. With the arrival of the youngest daughter Jill in 1977 the family was complete. Slowly Jake was able to start his own business, Jake’s Welding. He started working with the local dairy farmers and loggers in the area making many lifelong friends along the way. With Jake’s shop being right on the farm only a minute from town, Jake was able to continue his true love of all his careers being a Fireman. In 1984 Jake became the South Prairie Fire Department’s Volunteer Chief. In 2001 Jake closed the barn door once again and became a full time fireman. 

Jake retired from East Pierce Fire and Rescue in 2010 as an Assistant Chief with 47 years combined as a fireman. He truly loved helping people but even more than that, he loved teaching men and women to be firefighters and having a role in helping in the community.

When Jake retired his hobbies increased. Jake was busy. If he wasn't taking care of something, he was out in his shop or down enjoying the beach property. Jake was either going, planning or on a hunting trip with Jay and friends or helping Gavin wrap up his hunting adventures. Jake loved taking his boat out fishing, shrimping and geoducking. Jake also loved clam digging and teaching his grandkids how it was done. 

Grandkids, Jake loved his grandkids. He would take them anywhere they needed to be and he had nicknames for each of them. They held a special place in his heart.

A Celebration of life will be held Sunday Oct 1,2023 at 1PM at the Buckley Eagles

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