Dottie Davis Selby

Dottie Davis Selby Dottie D. Selby passed away peacefully at her home in Edgewood, WA on Wednesday, July 13. Her passing was as beautiful as she was. Dottie was born Dorothy Kay Allison on June 17, 1944 in Goldendale, Washington and raised in Portland, Oregon. Her father Ed was killed in WWII, and for 2-1/2 years she was raised by her mother Hazy and her aunt Dot for whom she was named. Both were English majors, well-spoken and well-read, laying a foundation for a love of reading. When she was three her mother remarried Don Davis, who adopted her and became a conscientious stepfather. She attended The Colorado College, Colorado Springs, Colorado, where she earned a B.A. in History in 1966 and developed lifelong friends in her Gamma Phi Beta sorority. In 1967 she received a Master's in Library Science at the University of Washington, specializing in children's literature, and met and married John S. Selby, her husband and best friend for 43 years. John and Dottie's two children, Ian (wife Amy) and Theresa Cutler (husband Nat) grew up in Edgewood. In addition to Ian and Theresa, Dottie is survived by John and their grandchildren, Ethan (8), August (6), and Dorothy (Thea, 2) Selby. Dottie's brother George (Jim) Davis lives with his wife Karen in Bend, OR. Dottie and John served in the Peace Corps and lived in Tunis, Tunisia in 1969-1971. Dottie worked in the library of the Graduate School of Business at the University of Tunis where she became fluent in French and a Francophile. On returning to Seattle, she set up the library for METRO. When Ian was born, Dottie devoted herself to raising her children. Once Theresa was in grade school, Dottie earned a teaching certificate at Pacific Lutheran University and worked as a librarian in the Puyallup School District at Maplewood Elementary, Hilltop Elementary, and Aylen Junior High from 1987-2001. Dottie was a member of Puyallup A.A.U.W. and founder of their writers group, Toastmasters, Master Gardeners, two book clubs, a women's hiking group, Mt. Rainier Meadow Rover volunteers, Tacoma Wheelmen Bicycle Club, and South Sound Classical Choir. Dottie loved stories. That is how she remembered people - by their stories. She memorized and told stories and introduced books and stories to her own children, to schoolchildren, and to her grandchildren. She was a strong advocate for reading aloud to children and practiced what she preached. One of her greatest pleasures was getting the right book to the right person at the right time. Now Dottie has become a lasting story herself in the hearts of all those she touched. A celebration of her life is being planned for September 4, 2011.