"How can you think of Dick without smiling? There are so many delightful memories to recall. I'm so very sad his life was affected by dementia. To Marilyn, his children and step-children....and the many "grands".....you have my deep sympathy. "
Richard James Ashby, 91, of Seattle, passed away January 14th, 2023 of dementia. "Dick" was beloved of his family and friends. His sense of humor and dry wit entertained us all, and he is greatly missed.
Born March 4th, 1931 in San Francisco, he lived most of his life in Seattle, growing up first in Puyallup and then in the Wallingford area. He graduated from the University of Washington with a degree in Civil Engineering and pledged Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity. After graduating, Dick served two years in the Army as First Lieutenant, stationed at Fort Lawton, Seattle.
Upon leaving the Army, he worked as an engineer at the Boeing Company for 35 years, drafting designs for various airplanes, the Saturn Apollo Rocket and the E3A AWACS Sentry. During down-time, he and co-workers competed over who could draw the best plans for the most elaborate mouse trap. While laid-off from Boeing for a year in the early 1970s, he oversaw quality control of the building of the Black River Dam in Renton.
Dick enjoyed many activities throughout his lifetime, especially raising, training and showing Shetland Sheepdogs (Shelties). He and his wife spent countless hours and travel to train and show their dogs, which were loved members of their family. Dick was awarded numerous awards for his abilities in the dog show circuit, including the titles on multiple dogs for Masters Agility Champion (MACH) and Obedience Trial Champion (OTCH). In addition, he was an AKC Tracking Judge.
At different times in his life, Dick was very involved in bicycling, building all sorts of items, fishing, snowmobiling and 4-wheeling, spending time at the family cabin in Canada, and leading Boy Scouts. He once accompanied Scouts on a white-water-river-rafting trip on the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon, a trip which included his son and father. Dick also enjoyed wielding a chainsaw to cut down trees on his property, to the consternation of onlookers.
Dick is survived by his loving wife Marilyn K. Ashby; daughter Vicki R. Ashby of Renton; brother Donald Ashby (Bobbie) of Everett; stepchildren Lori Davis (Ron) of Belfair, Frank Jones of Seattle, and Shari McAuliffe (Mike) of Lake Stevens; grandchildren Christopher McAuliffe (Rosalie) of Snohomish and Andi Allison (Caleb) of Puyallup; great-grandchildren Emmy, Kene, Sawyer, Noah and Piper; nephews Larry, Scott and Bryan Ashby (Mike); and first wife Mary Ashby-Johnson of Renton. He was preceded in death by his son Douglas J. Ashby, father John L. Ashby, and mother Florence "Dolly" Ashby.
Because of his love of dogs, the family suggests donations in his memory to Pasado's Safe Haven rescue or Seattle Humane Society, or to the Dementia Society of America.
Dick's ashes will be scattered at a lake in Canada, where he enjoyed much time with his family. A local service is pending.
The family is grateful to The Promised Land Adult Family Home in Bothell, whose staff lovingly cared for Dick during the last years of his life.
"How can you think of Dick without smiling? There are so many delightful memories to recall. I'm so very sad his life was affected by dementia. To Marilyn, his children and step-children....and the many "grands".....you have my deep sympathy. "
"I will always cherish my great memories of spending summers with Uncle Dick, Aunt Mary, Vicki and Doug, in Bellevue, as a young girl. Rest in Paradise Uncle Dick. ??"