Douglas S Leach

Douglas S. Leach of Bothell, WA was born December 11, 1927 in Seattle, WA to Grace Keene Barnet and Shirley Wyman Leach. He was fourth generation Washingtonian. He passed away, one week after a stroke, at the age of 92 on April 9, 2020 at Evergreen Hospice Center, Kirkland, WA.

Doug attended schools in Seattle and Gresham, OR. He graduated from Bothell High School in 1945 and from the University of Washington, School of Journalism in 1950. During college he worked for the Bothell Citizen doing advertising, photography and printing. While working there he met his future wife, Beverly Olson. After graduation he went to work for the Omak Chronicle. Following that he returned to Western Washington and the Bothell Citizen. Doug and Beverly were married March 9, 1951, in the Chapel of Flowers, Bellevue, WA.

He started his own business, Leach Motel Printing in 1952 and retired in 2010. His printing business in partnership with Beverly changed with the times. Beginning with letterpress handset type, metal cuts and hot type set on a Linotype machine. Later to offset presses that worked from proofs and film, with the image transferred to aluminum plates. He adopted computer typesetting on a Mac in the early 1990s but continued his interest in the artistry of historic fonts and typography.

Among Doug’s interests were photography and railroads, which resulted in a large library of historic photographs. A number have been published in books, magazines, and calendars and online. He enjoyed being able to share unique views of railroading in locations from Bothell to Montana. He was a member of several railroad’s historical societies: Great Northern Railway (GNRHS), Northern Pacific Railway (NPRHA) and Milwaukee Road (MRHA). He and Beverly enjoyed attending the Historical Society conventions and sharing discussions about the railroads.

Model railroading was another interest, a second layout was started after retirement. Regular trips to the hobby shops were made, mostly time spent visiting and discussing railroads and model trains.

Family vacations frequently included trips to the Ocean, many times it was Netarts Bay State Park near Tillamook, Oregon. Other memorable vacations were to Yellowstone National Park and by train to Chicago. Yellowstone became a favorite destination for Doug and Beverly, they were last there in September 2017.

Survived by his wife Beverly; two sons Steven D. Leach and Rick W. Leach, Idaho; three grandsons: Scott (Clare), Newport, OR; Eric, Naperville, IL and Paul (Darcy), Seattle, WA. Two great-grandsons: Lorn, Archer and great-granddaughter; Etti Ann. Brother, Don (Ardelle), Burlington, WA; Sister, Gracie Dickinson (Lee), Redding, CA. A private graveside service was held at Floral Hills Cemetery, Lynnwood, WA. A memorial service will be held at a later date.