Douglas Dean Armentrout

Douglas Dean Armentrout obituary, Woodinville, WA

Douglas Dean Armentrout

Douglas Armentrout Obituary

Published by Legacy Remembers from Jan. 30 to Jan. 31, 2023.
Douglas Dean Armentrout, 58, of Woodinville, Washington, passed away on January 22, 2023.

Doug was a neck-bowed Hawkeye if ever there was one. He was devoted to his home state and believed devoutly in the mystical power of the 100-mile radius of his birth. He would often list his Iowa hall of fame: Johnny Carson, John Wayne, Cloris Leachman, Donna Reed, Andy Williams... He was a religious Hawkeye football fan and being married to him meant a giving up every Saturday from late August to mid-December or convert.

He was born in Atlantic, Iowa on May 13 or 14th -- depending on who you ask -- to Betty Jane (nee Randall) and Wilbur Aaron Armentrout. He lived his life prior to meeting his wife, Paige, thinking he was born on May 13, 1964. But upon scrutinizing his birth certificate, Paige pointed out that he was actually born on the 14th; a fact his mother vehemently denied. Paige and Doug were married on October 18, 1997 by Buckner Fanning at Trinity Baptist Church in San Antonio.

Doug's maternal grandfather was a circus and vaudeville performer who was as colorful and outlandish as that sounds. Doug loved the uncommon and unorthodox aspects of his family history.

He graduated from Anita High School in 1982 and attended Northwestern College of Iowa in Orange City where he lived with his brother, Dwight. He briefly began graduate school in acting at LSU in Baton Rouge before leaving the program for reasons that are a bit elusive, but then, he was always cagey. During that time, he worked at theaters in Florida, Mississippi, Utah, Los Angeles and Louisiana. Doug moved to Los Angeles to pursue his acting career before deciding to enroll in the Professional Actor Training Program at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio, where he earned his MFA (1995) and met Paige. Doug and Paige lived in Cleveland and worked at the Cleveland Play House before moving to Manhattan in 1995, where they lived in Hell's Kitchen.

Doug worked for the City of New York, Department of Cultural Affairs and oversaw operations and donations for Materials for the Arts, of which he was extremely proud. Materials for the Arts was a reduce/reuse initiative by the city which recycled fabric, paper, building materials, etc. donated by corporations. In turn, non-profit arts organizations and the NY Department of Education could freely 'shop' for goods.

Emery Blackburn Armentrout was born at St. Luke's/Roosevelt in 1999. Doug and Paige settled in Woodinville, Washington in 2000, where Wilbur Whitman Armentrout was born in 2003. Doug was a stay-at-home dad for the first year of Wilbur's life, allowing Paige to go back to work. Turns out, he was much better at the stay-at-home thing than Paige. He worked for AT&T until 2003, and went to work for Sequoyah Electric in 2004, in Network Services (Division 54). He loved his work at Sequoyah and he was committed to a premier level of care for his clients. He had a team of professionals who he held in the highest esteem. Doug participated in leadership programs at Sequoyah, which he then led as a trainer for others in the company. He truly cared for his co-workers and partners and sought to continually affirm how much he valued their talent and dedication.

Wilbur graduated from Dolan Learning Center in 2022 and is a program assistant at Woodinville Montessori School.

Emery graduated from Woodinville Montessori School. He attended Trinity University in San Antonio, earning degrees in English Literature and Chinese. He is currently pursuing a master's degree at Middlebury Institute of International Studies (Monterey, CA) in International Trade and Economic Development, China.

Doug (aka Dougie Fresh) was a lover of the American theater, The Lawrence Welk Show, Paul Newman, a good cigar, and Rock 'n Roll; particularly Van Halen. He was a generous steward of institutions he respected; namely, Seattle Repertory Theatre, Classical Theatre of Harlem, Woodinville Montessori School, and Trinity University. He believed money is like manure: it's no good unless you spread it around.

Doug was predeceased by Wilbur Aaron, Betty Jane, Dwight William and David Vernon Armentrout, his father-in-law, Wayne Thompson, and sister-in-law, Sheri Barnett. He is survived by his wife of 25 years, Paige Thompson Armentrout and their children, Emery and Wilbur; his mother-in-law, Patsy Thompson and brother-in-law Chad Thompson (Jeni), of San Antonio; his brother-in-law, Scott Schmidt of Palm Springs; nephews Erick Armentrout (Amber) of Woodinville, Tyler Armentrout (Eva) of Tacoma and his adorable great-niece and nephews, Iris Marie, Oliver Dean and Oskar Roy Armentrout. In Iowa, his sister-in-law, Marsha Armentrout, niece Sara Armentrout, nephew Desmond Armentrout.

A memorial service will be held March 20, 2023 in Seattle at SIFF Uptown Cinema. Please consider a donation to Seattle Repertory Theatre or Classical Theatre of Harlem in his honor.

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January 30, 2025

Matt Harmsen posted to the memorial.

December 18, 2024

Wolfgang Neumann posted to the memorial.

May 1, 2023

David Eliet posted to the memorial.

Matt Harmsen

January 30, 2025

Former Pymosa Elementary School classmate of Doug; so sorry to hear that he passed away so very young.

Wolfgang Neumann

December 18, 2024

... still think of Doug as a good friend I shared a lot of classes, speech and basketball during my foreign exchange year in Anita, Iowa. Grateful to have met him in summer 2022 at class reunion!

David Eliet

May 1, 2023

Taken way too young. I remember his wonderful performance in ANTIGONE at Ohio University. I also saw him perform in New York City. He was a wonderful actor.

wade

March 20, 2023

rest in peace my good friend! wish i could of been there for you and your family today!

Ernie Karas

March 16, 2023

Ernie Karas

March 16, 2023

Doug was a great person, along with his family that I became part of just from the kindness known by him, two brothers and mom. He will be truly missed and thought of often. We spoke of the Iowa Hawkeyes his favorite team and ours. Ernie and Lori Karas, Cedar Rapids Iowa.

Single Memorial Tree

Ernie & Lori Karas

Planted Trees

Ernie Karas

March 16, 2023

Wolfgang

February 26, 2023

I had the pleasure to get to know Doug during my exchange year to Anita in 80/81.
During my year in Anita Doug was a close friend of mine. We spent a lot of time in the same courses, in speech and in basketball. Even though Doug always tried to make fun of me - I knew he respected me a lot! Last summer I met him at the 40 year class reunion and we had several longer talks. He showed true interest in a lot of topics and we had a very good exchange!

Hearing that Doug died so unexpected left a lot of griefs! We keep Doug as a true orginal character in our hearts! All the best to Paige and the family to overcome this tragedy!

Bruce Owensby

February 8, 2023

I had the pleasure and opportunity to work with Doug and Paige twice. First, designing the addition to their home, secondly, designing their garage carriage house, and what was to be Doug´s man cave on the second floor.

As I told Doug and Paige numerous times, they are my favorite client´s ever. Paige and I hit it off immediately due to our San Antonio roots, Doug wasn´t far behind and gained ground quickly with his infectious smile and good nature. I am not someone who has many male friends. I am too picky, a sense of humor, intelligence, trustworthiness, are a must, but mostly . . . it´s just being a good person. As simple as that sounds, amazingly hard to find in total. In Doug, I saw all those qualities. We may not have run around together, however, whenever I was with Doug for business or personal reasons, I always considered Doug my friend. I treasured our talks, he always put a smile on my face and time always passed much too quickly. I will miss my time with Doug.

My heart goes out to Paige, Emery and Wilbur

Jill and Michael

February 8, 2023

Paige and family,
We are high school classmates of Doug. What a fun loving fellow Hawkeye fan. Doug left a wonderful impact on this world and will be greatly missed. We love how he was so dedicated to Anita.
Prayers to you and your family.

Randy Canaan

February 4, 2023

Dear Paige,
Doug and I were roommates the last 3 months of our senior year at NW in 1987. We started out as housemates in order to save money on rent, but ended up as friends. We enjoyed listening to music on his stereo, although the neighbors thought it too loud. An eclectic playlist from Van Halen to Kate Bush to Morrisey and The Smiths. I also enjoyed riding in his old Triumph for trips to the beer store, which certainly turned heads in NW Iowa towns like Orange City. I always joked that he looked like Sting from the Police and Doug would respond, "You mean, Sting looks like me!"
He was a good friend for the short time we were together at Northwestern. I couldn´t have made through to graduation without Doug showing up in my life at that time. Easy to talk to, a good listener, and just fun to hangout with.
My deepest condolences to you and your children. I´m am lucky to have known Doug. From reading your well written memorial, it´s apparent that Doug made a positive impression on many people and that they were lucky to have known him too.
Randy Canaan
NW College
Class of 87

Michael McNeal

February 3, 2023

I knew Doug while at LSU. Was his mentor in the play "Orphans". But he was the one who mentored me: How to look at the world with wonder. How to treat your neighbor with love and respect. How to remain at peace.
He is gone way too soon. My condolences to his family.

Fletcher Nichols

February 3, 2023

My condolences, my memories of Doug were from high school but thru Facebook have stayed in touch for the last several years He was a great man in many ways !

Suzanne Eades

February 3, 2023

AHS classmate `82´ and most important Hawkeye fan.
My memories of Doug are full of respect, smiles and laughter.
At our last reunion, I took a moment to glance around the area and take in all the activity, faces and laughter. As my glance scanned the area it came upon Doug, sitting in a lawn chair, at a short distance. It appeared as he was doing the same. A smile on his face the whole time. His glance made its way to my area, we locked eyes, our smile broadened. He raised his glass and I also.
Two classmates, Two Hawkeye fans, Cheers my friend CHEERS
Suzanne Eades

Janet Geist

February 3, 2023

I am so sorry for your loss Paige. I remember Doug as a beautiful young man and talented actor at Monomoy theatre in 1994.

MaryEllen Etienne

February 3, 2023

Sending my condolences. I was a colleague of Doug´s at Materials for the Arts. He was great at his job and an even better human.

Julie Petersen

February 3, 2023

I graduated high school with Doug. Having such a small class everyone was friends with everybody. Doug´s passing leaves a giant hole in this world. He was always larger than life. He will truly be missed. God Bless Paige, Wilbur and Emery.

Paige

February 3, 2023

Thank you each for these tender notes that break open my heart, in the best way about the best times. Thank you for sharing with me. Gratitude is a soothing salve.

Jamie

February 2, 2023

Doug was a hell of an actor, and had one hell of a sense of humor. He was a joy to work with and a blast to blow off steam with after work was done. I've always viewed Paige and Doug as a perfect match. (Thanks for sharing that photo Helene. It reminds me of a great night during a rough time when Doug and Paige got me to come out and see OU friends. I needed that more than I knew.) Who could resist an invitation to hang with those two?

"Now cracks a noble heart. Good-night, sweet prince;
And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest."

Helene

February 2, 2023

Dougie Fresh, hilarious, dry, wise, wacky, witty, compassionate, the Iowa Nick to Paige´s Texas Nora, proud papa, beloved friend, and he and Paige together made any lockdown Zoom call something to actually look forward to. Sending all my love and gratitude to Paige, Emery, Wilbur and his family for sharing his laughter and light with the rest of us. We were so lucky to have him.

Doug Powers-Black

February 1, 2023

All my love to you Paige

Beth King Coffey

January 31, 2023

Doug was such a talented young actor when he attended Simpson College in Indianola, Iowa, in the mid 1980´s. His talent was undeniable! My sincerest sympathies for his unexpected passing, but so great that he kept his passion alive!!

Annette Kraus and David Raubvogel

January 31, 2023

Our hearts are broken to have to say goodbye to such a wonderful old friend, classmate and art lover. Doug was one-of-a-kind. Funny, generous, full of love and kindness. I´ll never forget your infectious laugh. Rest in peace my good friend.

Scott Crane

January 31, 2023

Doug was short-time college roomie, a fellow thespian and a respected friend. Our times onstage and off, were full of life, love and laughter. There are so many memories of Doug that I remember with great fondness. But I, especially, love the many skits we did in chapel around themes that were given to us by the chaplain. Doug's writing and performance were always magical and had layered levels of insight. And, I am so glad, that via Facebook, we could still stay in touch and share a little humor despite the distance of our college life. He will be greatly missed here on this earth but I am sure that heaven has greatly gained with Doug's wit and wisdom.

Wade and Amy Jessen

January 31, 2023

Our hearts are aching for the Doug Armentrout family here in Anita! Amy and I will always cherish the last class reunion in August that Doug stayed with us!

Eva Armentrout

January 31, 2023

Eva Armentrout

January 31, 2023

Eva Armentrout

January 31, 2023

Eva Armentrout

January 31, 2023

Eva Armentrout

January 31, 2023

We will miss the old onion. A wonderful husband, father, uncle and friend. I´m so thankful for the time I got to spend with you.

Graham Frye

January 31, 2023

Hi. My name's Graham Frye and Doug and I were in the MFA program at LSU. We did three plays together,and I found it a joy to work with him. He was also one of the funniest jokers I ever knew, and one day in the scene shop sprung his "chicken dance" on me ( I can't describe it), which made me laugh harder than I had in years, and will be with me till my dying day. I'll be seeing you someday down that endless train track; thanks for coming into my life.G.

Holly (Donaghy) Berendsen

January 31, 2023

I so loved working with Doug on many projects in undergrad, and especially on his senior project/play, "Do You Put Sheep Dung on Your Strawberries." Doug couldn't type well, so I was the typist, spell checker, grammarian catch-all for the project. I recall those years at NWC very fondly and truly extend my heartfelt sympathies to the families.

Dirk Hartman

January 31, 2023

Rest in peace my old friend. The time as one of my roommates at Northwestern was brief but memorable. I fondly remember cruising across campus on a warm spring day in his Triumph TR6 with Scott Crane in the passenger seat and I sitting behind both of you on the trunk. God bless.

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January 30, 2025

Matt Harmsen posted to the memorial.

December 18, 2024

Wolfgang Neumann posted to the memorial.

May 1, 2023

David Eliet posted to the memorial.