Douglas Bernard Etchey
1934 – 2011

Doug was born to Michael Harry Etchey and Elsie May Simpson in Seattle on Nov. 7, 1934. He was the youngest of six children. Though his name was Douglas Bernard Etchey, he grew up with the nickname Tommy as his older brothers were named Dick and Harry. Go figure.

He lived in Seattle for most of his childhood, eventually graduating at Roosevelt High School. Known for his speed on the track team, he set records in the 100-yard dash throughout the city of Seattle.

He entered the Air Force at the age of 18 and served four years during the Korean War, stationed at Biloxi, Miss., and in England. During that time, he had a daughter, Teresa.

In 1957, he met Kathryn Mary Ingalls at Paine Field in Everett and fell in love. They married on May 17, 1957 and settled in the Seattle area. Doug entered the tire business working for General Tire for many years. Between 1957 and 1962, he and Kathy had five sons, the last two being twins. In the years that followed, he was very active in youth sports as a coach while the boys participated in soccer during the fall and baseball in the spring and summer.

After 20 years of city life, he moved his family to the country in Hansville, Wash. He purchased Village Tire in Winslow (Bainbridge Island) and eventually moved the shop to Rolling Bay where he and his son Brian established a lasting relationship with the local community.

Doug retired at 65, selling the business and settling into a life of doing the things he loved, which were yard work and fishing off Point No Point.

At the age of 70, Doug and Kathy purchased a small home on a golf course in Mesa, Ariz., and relocated there. He loved to sit outside and watch the golfers when he wasn’t golfing himself, and he loved to read. He read the newspaper every morning, usually at 4 a.m. when it was delivered. Even though he settled in the south, he still loved to follow the Seattle sports teams. Each summer, he’d make the trek up to the Northwest in his beat-up Ford Ranger to spend a couple of weeks with family.

Doug was best described as witty, with a spicy tongue; yet was easily brought to tears as he missed seeing the kids and grandkids in Washington.

Doug was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Gloria and Margret; and brothers, Richard and Harry.

He is survived by his sister, Carol, of Edmonds, Wash.; his ex-wife, Kathy, of Mesa, Ariz.; his daughter, Teresa, of Bothell, Wash.; and five sons, Tom (Sallie) of Poulsbo, Wash., Brian of Poulsbo, Wash., David (Theresa) of Marysville, Wash., Jerome of Mesa, Ariz., and Jeff (Donna) of Kingston, Wash.

He is also survived by his greatest treasures, his 10 grandchildren: Jerol, Jeff, Andrew, Jake, Shae, Shannon, Jesse, Katie, Nick, Taylor, and four great-grandchildren, TJ, Cassie, Aiden and Camryn, plus lots of nieces and nephews. A private family ceremony will be held in Mesa, Ariz.

— Family of Douglas Bernard Etchey