Edward Dale Doak

EDWARD DALE DOAK died on February 3, 2023 at Life Care Center of Blount County. He was born on August 1, 1932 in Tucumcari, New Mexico and lived for several years on a small ranch at the base of Tucumcari Mountain. Dale moved with his parents to SanJon, New Mexico and then to Hereford, TX, where he graduated from high school in 1950. Earning both B.S. and M.S. degrees from Eastern New Mexico University in Portales, he was awarded the Doctor of Education (EdD) in 1963 by the University of Colorado in Boulder.
Dale was a son, husband, and father. He was preceded in death by his parents, Everett Edward and Carrie Mae Doak; sister and brother-in-law, Betty and George Olson of Hereford, TX; former wife and children's mother, Anna Marie Dunn Doak; and son, Christian Calvin Doak. He is survived by his wife, Rita Methvin Doak; daughter, Sarah A. Doak; brother-and-sister-in-law, Galen and Linda Methvin, all of Knoxville; nephew, Rhodes (Mindy) Methvin of Ohio; niece, Donna (David) Ruland and nephew, Steven (Ginger) Olson, both of Hereford, TX; along with several great nieces and nephews. Dale devoted his life to his children, Christian and Sarah, proud of their loving, giving, and kind hearts; and his wife Rita, his best friend and life's beautiful partner for more than thirty-five years. He was often overheard stating what a privilege it was to be their father and her husband.
"Dr. Doak" was also a devoted educator, deeply believing in public education. For more than 48 years, he held administrative and teaching positions from middle school to doctoral graduate programs in New Mexico, Colorado, Indiana, and Tennessee. He spent much of his career at the University of Tennessee College of Education as Associate Dean, with the last eighteen years working with graduate students in a cutting-edge instructional technology program he developed. While some of his most rewarding work was with these exceptionally talented "I.T." students, every one of them would easily note that he was the exceptional one as their mentor, teacher, and role model for life-long learning.
And "Cowpoke Doak" loved novels, art, and the lore of the American Southwest, attending stock auctions, raising Santa Gertrudis cattle on his Bar-D Ranch, working with his beloved cutting horse Tank (Mr. Gin Twister), laughing at Black Bart the donkey, and receiving fur baby love from his Aussiedoodle, Fancy. He planted his and Rita's Blaine homestead with colorful flowers and grasses reminiscent of childhood sunrises and sunsets, and took reflection each morning beside the Colorado spruce as fauna emerged from the forest to feed.
In the quiet of the morning
when the sky is clear and white
and dawn's soft hush has slipped
across the solitude of night,
When the last pale star has fallen
and the East's a rosy glow
streaked with lavenders and orchids
with a touch of indigo.
-from Dee Strickland Johnson's "Morning in the High Hills"
The family offers their sincere gratitude to Dale's wonderful caregivers Clara, Tina, Diane, and his Amedysis home therapists, to his special friend Don, as well as our helpful and caring neighbors - without them his life would have been much less full.
According to his wishes, there will be no services. E. Dale Doak will be buried along with his son, Christian, at the East Tennessee Veteran's Cemetery in Knoxville, Tennessee.
Gentry Griffey Funeral chapel is honored to serve the Doak family and invites you to view and sign the online obituary.
To send flowers
to the family or plant a tree
in memory of Edward Dale Doak, please visit our floral store.