Dorothy Carol Miles, 80, passed away at Providence St. Peter Hospital in Olympia, WA on Thursday, April 1, 2021. Dorothy was born in Yakima, WA in 1940, four days after Christmas. She was tiny but strong. Dorothy had one younger brother, Johnny who passed away last year. Dorothy spent many wonderful years growing up and going to school in Yakima. Eventually she befriended another girl her age named Wilda Miles. Wilda invited Dorothy to spend the night at her house as young girls often do, then and today. Wilda’s brother, Robert, came home that night and noticed a beautiful brunette girl with large green eyes.
Robert and Dorothy were married in March of 1956 and began their journey by moving to San Francisco and living in a small apartment on Russian Hill where they welcomed their first daughter, Debra. Within less than a year, Robert and Dorothy longed for familiar places and family and returned to Yakima where both had been born and raised. Over the next three years, Teresa, Linda and Robert Jr. were born. Sadly Dorothy and Robert lost a new born baby boy in 1959.
Robert had a brief stint in the Air Force and then decided to attend Bates College in Tacoma, WA. The family moved to Tacoma and shortly after, Lori was born. The family moved again to Federal Way, WA where Lisa was born. After Robert completed school he was hired by Weyerhaeuser as a diesel mechanic, beginning a long and successful career that spanned over thirty years. Accepting the position at Weyerhaeuser meant the family must move again.
Robert and Dorothy bought an older six bedroom home on five acres in Eatonville, WA. Over the five years in Eatonville, the Miles family enjoyed many pets and farm animals, like horses, pigs, ducks, a goat, rabbits, chickens and a Jersey milk-cow named Bossy. Dorothy used to make homemade butter from Bossy’s cream and large pots of hot-chocolate for her children. However Dorothy’s homemade cream puffs and cinnamon rolls were the absolute best and a total family favorite at the Miles’ house.
In 1972, the Miles family moved to Lacey, WA and Karl was born in the fall of 1973. The new house was very full. One by one, Robert and Dorothy’s children grew up and left home to start their own journeys. When Robert and Dorothy built a new home in Olympia proper, but near Littlerock, only two children remained at home, Karl and Lisa. Dorothy always loved this home; it was nestled on five acres and was like living in a park. Dorothy planted flowers and other plants; she enjoyed nurturing them and taking in their beauty. Dorothy also loved birds; she was an avid humming bird watcher and ensured “her birds” always had sugar-water.
Dorothy and her family were faced with the most difficult time when Robert was diagnosed with gallbladder cancer in the fall of 2012. Robert passed away in March 2015. With help from family, Dorothy was ready to downsize and sell the property in Littlerock. The property included a main residence and a manufactured home where Dorothy’s mother resided during the last few years of her life.
Dorothy picked a bare-land site and built a home in Jubilee, a fifty-five plus community in the Hawks Prairie area. Jubilee is a beautiful community and mom quickly joined a club where they met every month for potlucks. She also enjoyed other events; a group picnic down by the beach, concerts, a wonderful New Year’s Eve party and other group events like attending a golf cart parade at night. The carts were decorated in Christmas lights and paraded by while onlookers were served hot drinks and spirits.
Robert and Dorothy always had large and small dogs and sometimes even a cat. However, above all, Dorothy loved Toy Poodles. Dorothy and Robert have a long history of at least one poodle in their family and sometimes two since the mid-80’s. She and Robert have a very special place in their hearts for a dog named Gus. They were heartbroken when he passed away. Gus was delivered from Oregon by their daughter as a small adorable puppy and he brought joy to Robert and Dorothy for over sixteen years. A few months later, Linda took Dorothy and Robert to Puyallup WA to pick up a surprise she arranged for them, baby Riley. Riley is a black-grey Toy Poodle with a sweet, spunky personality and it was clear from the start that Dorothy was his preferred human. After Robert passed away, Dorothy was never alone at home, she had her best friend Riley to comfort her.
Dorothy is a much loved wife, mother, and friend, and will be deeply missed.
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