Doris Mildred Houghtaling

September 17, 1922 — March 14, 2023

Doris Mildred “Dottie” Houghtaling was born Sept. 17, 1922, at Fort Casey, Wash., to George and Maymie Hammons. Doris was raised in Race Lagoon and attended Smith Prairie High School. Her family moved to Langley, where she attended Langley High School. She was married to Henry “Hank” M. Houghtaling in Greenbank July 14, 1941. Hank was serving as a soldier with the U.S. Army and was the sergeant-in-charge at the submarine monitoring station in Greenbank.

Following World War II, Hank left the service, but was recalled to active duty during the Korean War. He and Doris were stationed at Fort Lewis, Fort Warden, Squamish, Poulsbo, Wash., Utah and Germany before returning to the states. Hank’s final duty station was as Provost Marshall at the Ammunitions Depot, Hermiston, Ore. He retired in 1964 and they returned to Whidbey Island and settled in Mariners Cove in Oak Harbor.

Doris and Hank bought a Shell service station on Pioneer Way, but eventually built a new station on Midway Boulevard and 900 Ave East. They also purchased Midway Tire and Muffler across from the Shell station. Selling their business interests, Doris and Hank began commercial fishing and crabbing off Whidbey Island and LaPush. In 2000, Doris and Hank sold their home and moved to Anacortes, Wash., to be closer to their daughter, Sharon.

Dottie was a member of the Order of the Amaranth and the daughters of the Nile, the Oak Harbor Yacht Club and former member of the Whidbey-Deception Pass Boat Club.

Dottie is survived by her daughter-in-law, Penny, of Oak Harbor; one sister, Gladys Hayes Conrad, of Mount Vernon, Wash.; two grandchildren, Cliff and Denise; six great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren. She is proceeded in death by her husband, Henry Houghtaling; son, Cliff Houghtaling Sr.; daughter, Sharon Neilson; son-in-law, Jim Neilson; and by two sisters and two brothers.

Dottie requested no services be held.