Floyd L. 'Shorty' Doke

Floyd L. “Shorty” Doke peacefully passed away at home from natural causes on Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursdaay, Feb. 26, at the Lutheran Church in Glasgow. A luncheon will follow at the VFW.

He was born in Glasgow on Oct. 10 1944, as the fourth child to Elmer Floyd and Mary (Pointer) Doke. He grew up on the family farm west of Glasgow and graduated from Glasgow High School in 1963. After graduating, he left Glasgow to work with his brother-in-law as a crane oiler on the Minute Man missiles in North Dakota and western Montana. He then went on to Columbia Falls to work construction on the aluminum plant there. From Columbia Falls, he traveled to Libby to work construction on the dam. After he left Libby, he continued his work in construction on the Rexford Bridge in Eureka. In the early 1970s, he returned to Glasgow where he began working at the water treatment plant at the Glasgow Air Base. Soon after, he began his career at the Valley County Road Department, where he spent many happy years doing work he loved. One of his favorite pastimes was operating “his” blade and he had no interest in ever retiring. He always said he had a “retirement job.”

In 1977, he met the love of his life, Laurie Hoyt, and they married soon after on May 27, 1978. They were excited to start a family and had their first child, Tanya, in 1979. In March of 1981, they had a son, Travis, and in January of 1983, they had their third child, Alicia.

He very much enjoyed being a father and his children were the center of his life. He loved the time he spent volunteering as a coach and a Scout leader. If one of his kids was participating in an event or game, he was in the stands cheering them on. Later in life, he was always ready to jump in the car for a family trip to Billings.

He was a life member of North Star Lodge No. 46, AF&AM, where he served as past Master, secretary/treasurer for many years and was currently the present Master; Scottish Rite of Free Masonry, SJ, in the Valley of Billings; Al Bedoo Shrine of Billings; and he was a Past Worthy Patron of the Order of Eastern Star. He also served on the Nemont Manor Board of Directors for many years.

He very much enjoyed being social, especially when he could talk and visit with friends and family for hours. He was an optimist, was generous, kind and sharing. His good spirit was contagious. He was dearly loved and will be missed by all those whose lives he touched.

He was preceded in death by his parents, E. Floyd and Mary Doke; his older brother, Pleas Alan Doke; and one niece, Mary Rae Sherwood.

Survivors include his wife, Laurie; three children, Tanya (Benji) Doke, of Billings; Travis (Jessica) Doke, of Billings, and Alicia of Glasgow; three siblings, Clifford Doke and his wife, Deb, of Manassas, Va., Doris Sherwood and her husband, John “Bud,” of Spokane, Wash., and Loretta Doke of Glasgow; and numerous nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, the family invites you to donate to the charity of your choice in honor of Shorty.

Bell Mortuary of Glasgow is in charge of arrangements.