Donald (Donnie) Keith McElravy was born to Floyd and Ruth (Quentin) McElravy in Pasco, Washington. As a young lad, he spent the first few years in Pasco. In the early 1950s his family moved to the Tacoma area where he spent his youth and graduated from Mount Tahoma High School in 1967.
Upon graduation Donnie attended Pacific Lutheran University before enlisting in the U.S. Air Force. After basic training(Lackland AFB) he attended school for boiler operator/maintenance mechanic. Most of his tour duty was stationed in Taiwan and the Philippines. Upon discharge in the early '70s he moved to Spokane where he worked at Fairchild AFB for several years.
He moved to Kitsap County and worked for Pan Am Sub Base Bangor. Due to layoffs he then went to Del Jen at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island. In 1987 he went to work as a boiler operator/maintenance mechanic at PSNS in Bremerton. He retired from the federal service in 2000 and went on to work in the private sector at Horizon Air in SeaTac and also The Bishop and Swan Hotels in Port Townsend. His final job was working at Hadlock Building Supply in Port Hadlock which he loved dearly.
Donnie loved salmon fishing, especially with his father and uncle John Dawson on the Nemah River. He was an avid bowler and bowled in many different leagues in the 1980s and '90s in Kitsap County. He loved traveling to California, and Leavenworth, and one of his favorite places was the ocean. Donnie loved being around friends, family and especially his children and grandchildren.
He was a member of VFW Post 239 in Bremerton, Our Saviours Lutheran Church in Bremerton and Trinity United Methodist Church in Port Townsend.
How could we forget that Donnie was the biggest Seahawk fan ever? He was a loving man with a contagious smile and a big heart. Donnie had a wonderful quick-witted sense of humor that lifted up those around him. He had a strong faith and he loved the Lord. He truly will be missed by all who knew him.
He is survived by his significant other of 38 years, Karin Davis of Port Hadlock and her family; brother, Steven McElravy(Denise) of Brier; sister, Kathy Christensen (Jeff) of Tacoma and family; son, Tim McElravy of Lake Wenatchee and family; daughter, Emily Pickett (David) of Edmonds and family; and numerous nephews and nieces.
A celebration of life ceremony will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 5 at Trinity United Methodist Church in Port Townsend. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association.
