Fay Doty

Fay S. Doty (95). Fay Doty left us on the evening of December 27th 2013, much like she lived her long and colorful life; on her terms. Fay was born Fay Snyder Stathem on August 27th, 1918 in Riverdale CA to parents Ralph and Zella Stathem.  One of seven children raised on a farm, her fondest childhood memories ranged from standing on a box to kneed bread dough with her mother, to driving a team of horses with her dad, and walks to the ice cream store with her siblings for a root beer float; a memory that would help her open her first business later in life.  At a recent reunion in California, one classmate recalled, "she was always the prettiest girl in Riverdale." As a child of the depression and hardworking homesteaders, she acquired her natural work ethic at an early age helping her mother with a cleaning job and contributing a portion of that money for the family car payment.   Fay married her first husband, Frank Leap, at the age of 19, and at age 20 gave birth to their son Dave who would live to be her son, companion, and "the joy of her life" for many years. With her husband serving in the Merchant Marines during World War II, Fay did her part by helping to care for service wives following childbirth.  When Frank returned they ran a pack station with family at Jackass Meadows.  It was truly memorable for the family as well as the clients.  Fay and Frank in 1950 bought their first business (Mary's Soda Fountain) for $3,000.  It was a popular spot for teens and adults. Tragically she lost her husband Frank when she was only 38 years old due to heart problems.  She would later marry her second husband Garley "Ed" Doty.  Following a hunting excursion to southwest Montana with her brothers, Ed and Fay moved to Montana in the fall of 1963 because they fell in love with the fishing, hunting, and scenery in the mountains that surround the Dillon area.  After owning and operating Lee's Steakhouse in Dillon (on the site of what would later become the Dilmart), Ed and Fay would spend time in Reno and California running a variety of successful businesses only to return to Dillon in retirement to be closer to family.   Hobbies included the pack station, deer hunting, camping. In retirement, she adored spending time with her many grand children and great-grand children as well participating in both Eastern Star & the Red Hat Ladies over the course of her lifetime.  Fay had served as an officer in Eastern Star in California and again in Montana, and rose to the level of  Worthy Matron in both regions. Fay is survived by daughters Linda Johnson, Myrna Gervasoni, and Marilyn Durrant, daughter-in-law Marlene Leap, and scores of grand children, great grand children, nieces, nephews, in-laws, and companions each of whom she treasured dearly. A Memorial Service is scheduled for Saturday, January 4th 11:00 A.M. at Brundage Funeral Home with lunch reception to follow.  In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Barrett Hospital Home Health & Hospice in memory of Fay.