Dolly Margaret Yates

Dolly Margaret Yates passed away peacefully on June 12, 2025, at her home on Hicks Lake in Lacey, Washington.  She had recently celebrated her 95th birthday with most of her family in attendance. She was pre-deceased by a daughter Laura Marie Yates and by her husband of 66 years, David Arthur Yates.

Dolly was born on April 14, 1930, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, her mother having traveled from the Northwest Territories of Canada to be with her family for the birth. When Dolly was about a year old, she and her mother moved back to Canada to be with her father. They lived in North Vancouver BC, Vancouver BC, Conklin AB and for a time in Mayo, Yukon Territory.

Her parents separated in 1938, and Dolly and her mother moved to Tonasket for Dolly’s third through sixth grade years. They subsequently lived in Oroville, Okanogan, Wenatchee and Chehalis where Dolly graduated from Chehalis High School in 1947. 

Dolly then attended Washington State College where she met David Yates. They were married in February 1951 and Dolly graduated Phi Beta Kappa from WSC.

Daughters Katherine (Kay) and Laura were born in 1952 and 1953. After Dave’s stint in the army the family moved to Wenatchee where Dave worked for the Washington State Department of Highways (later Washington State Department of Transportation). Sons Glenn and Doug were born during their time there and in early 1958 Dave transferred to Seattle where son Peter was born that summer.

Dave’s job took the family to Olympia in 1966.  The family rented a house on the west side of Hicks Lake and then moved to the house on Carpenter Road where Dolly lived for fifty-eight years. She loved living on the lake and welcomed extended family for Thanksgiving for many years and for summer activities on the lake. She especially enjoyed seeing her grandchildren and great-grandchildren during those times.

Dolly worked for a time at Sunset Life Insurance and later for the Department of Transportation until her retirement.

Dolly was active with her children’s schools and activities, assisting with Girl Scouts, Campfire and Cub Scouts for several years. She was an accomplished seamstress and excelled at knitting, crocheting, needlework and cross stitch.

After attending Lacey Christian Church and Lacey Community Church, Dolly and Dave found a home with the Olympia Society of Friends where they appreciated the pacifist message and inclusive community of the Quaker Meeting.

Dolly and Dave were active for several years in a mushroom club and a Spanish club. They traveled to many different parts of the world, including Canada, Mexico, Ecuador, Peru, Africa, Europe, China and Australia. They also hosted exchange students from several different countries.

Dolly contributed much to the community, keeping records for decades of the Hicks Lake water level for the county and manning the communications van for Thurston County Explorer Search and Rescue. She and Dave also volunteered at the Nisqually Wildlife Refuge and the Nisqually Reach Nature Center for many years.

In her last years, Dolly reflected often on how fortunate she had been to become part of the large Yates family and how much she enjoyed her house on the lake.

She will be dearly missed by her large network of family and friends but particularly by her surviving children Kay McGee, Glenn Yates (wife Sue), Doug Yates and Peter Yates as well as her eight grandchildren and seventeen great-grandchildren.

A Celebration of Life is planned for Sunday, July 20th at the Olympia Friends Meeting House at 2:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers the family suggests donations to the charity of your choice in memory of Dolly M. Yates.