Ellaine C. Doak

While Ellaine's father was in basic training in the U.S. Marine Corps during WWII, she moved with her mother from La Mesa, New Mexico to Parris Island, South Carolina. When he was deployed to the Pacific Theater, Ellaine and her mother returned to La Mesa. After the war, the family lived in numerous locations as her dad worked farming and construction jobs. In 1958 they moved to Grants, New Mexico where Ellaine attended high school and later studied art at New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, New Mexico.

At New Mexico State University, Ellaine met Alan Deming Doak. They were married on July 20, 1963, at the Methodist Church in Clayton, New Mexico, and began their married life on the Doak family ranch in Gladstone, New Mexico. Shortly thereafter, they moved to Kersey, Colorado, where their son Richard was born in 1965, and later to Miles City, Montana, where their son James was born in 1968.

Ellaine and her family lived in Montana for about 10 years, where she worked alongside Alan riding horses and working cattle. She was a true frontier woman—making a comfortable home out of a log cabin and once protected her boys by shooting an angry badger.

They later moved south to a new ranch in Fort Sumner, New Mexico, where Ellaine and family lived for 17 years. She raised the boys, kept everyone well fed and many of her treasured recipes live on! Her passion for art continued. She loved the Lord and taught her sons to love Jesus as well.

In 1994, Ellaine and Alan made a major life change and moved to Phoenix, Arizona, where they opened a residential door business. Ellaine continued to pursue her art in many media, including stone, tile, wood, and—her favorite—pastels. She made many friends and enjoyed sharing life with them. She was also very active in her church, Bible study groups, home groups and supported numerous ministries. One of Ellaine’s greatest joys were her dogs, from multiple Shetland Sheepdogs early on to her best boy, Cinco, a three-legged Australian Shepherd/Border Collie.

Ellaine’s parents lived in Valdez, Alaska for many years until her father’s death in 1987. Her mother later moved to Arizona, and Ellaine treasured the time she was able to spend with her until her death in 2020.

Ellaine was a resident of Legends III Assisted Living in Peoria, Arizona, where she and Alan remained side by side until the very end.

Ellaine is survived by her husband of 62 years, Alan Deming Doak; her brother, Tom Calhoun, and his wife, Lee; her son Richard Deming Doak and his wife, Stacy Lynn Doak, and their children Justin, Alexandra, Bethany, and Jenna; and her son James Andrew Doak and his wife, Lisa Diane Doak, and their children Drew and Kelsey.

A memorial open house will be held at Legends III in Peoria, Arizona, on Saturday, May 23, 2026. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Ellaine’s honor to the charity or ministry of your choice.