Donald D. Doty

Doty, Donald D.

June 30, 1928 - June 2, 2024

Donald D. Doty, 95, of Bartlesville, Oklahoma, passed away peacefully at home on Sunday, June 2, 2024, after 31 years of retirement.

Don was born on June 30, 1928 to Laton L. Doty and Dorothy (Russell) Doty in Independence, KS. After he graduated from Bartlesville College High School in 1946, he went on to study mathematics and business at Oklahoma A&M.  While in Stillwater, he was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon social fraternity.  

In 1952, Don met Cheri Montgomery who was working for Phillips Petroleum. They were married in June of that year and went on to have three children, John, Susan and Mark.

After graduation, Don went to work on the family ranch south of Bartlesville. However, he had been in ROTC at Oklahoma A&M and held an Air Force reserve commission. Don received orders to report for active duty in July of 1953 and moved to Selfridge Air force Base in Michigan.  When he was relieved from active duty in July of 1955, he decided that ranching was a better avocation than an occupation. Don then entered a training program with First National Bank in Bartlesville, which became WestStar Bank and is now Arvest.  At his retirement in 1993, he was President and Chief Operating Officer of the bank and President of First Bancshares Holding Company. He served as President of the Oklahoma Bankers Association 1984-85.

Active in civic affairs, he was named as Chairman of the Jane Phillips Medical Center from 1970 to 2003 and was then named Chairman of the Jane Phillips Health System. Don was also elected a Trustee of the Frank Phillips Foundation and Woolaroc and served as Chairman 1985-2002.

Involved in Oklahoma State University activities, Don was Chairman of the College of Business Associates 1991-1992 and was named to the OSU College of Business Hall of Fame in 1994. In 2000, he was given the OSU Distinguished Alumni Award. He was a big OSU Cowboy Fan.

In 1993, Don retired as President of WestStar Bank. After a multi-friend's trip to Tuscany, Don and Cheri discovered that they loved Florence.  They ended up spending the month of October at the same apartment in Florence, every year, for almost 20 years. Don was an avid hunter, skier, golfer and outdoorsman. He also participated in the International Peace Climb of Mt. Everest, with his good friend and fraternity brother, Charlie Kittrell. The trek was a joint effort with the USA, China and Russia.

During the last several years at home, Don was looked after by Caregivers of Bartlesville who took care of all his needs. They truly enjoyed his company and it showed. Don wanted you to know they politely smiled during 635 episodes of Gunsmoke, 217 episodes of Rawhide, 431 episodes of Bonanza and 168 episodes of The Rifleman.  All of them at volume 11 out of 10.  A grateful thanks.   

Don was predeceased by his parents, Laton and Dorothy and his stepmother, Margaret Tunnell Doty. He is survived by his stepsister, Pam Camarata of Midland, TX, his children, John and Susan (Hed) Doty of Chicago, IL, Susan Doty Keaton of Frisco, TX and Mark Doty and Heidi Miller of Ingram, TX. Don has six grandchildren and seventeen great-grandchildren.

Services will be held at St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Bartlesville on Saturday, June 22, at 10:30 am. A reception will follow at the church.  In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to St. Luke's Episcopal Church, 210 E 9th St, Bartlesville, OK 74003.

Don's legacy of kindness, dedication and service will be remembered by all who knew him.  He will be deeply missed.