Dorothy Kathryn Rough, 68, of Elma, Washington passed away peacefully at Providence St. Peter Hospital in Olympia, Washington on Feb. 11, 2025.
Dorothy was born in Poughkeepsie, New York to Laura and Henry Rough and grew up with her five siblings in Poughquag, New York. After a storied youth on the East Coast, she moved west and began a career as a Labor and Delivery Nurse which she often said was her greatest joy. She worked at Grays Harbor Community Hospital and Providence St. Peter Hospital, among others.
She was creative, talented, artistic, adventurous and a great lover of animals and birds. Her interests included carpentry, woodworking, boat building, canoeing, fishing, painting, leather working, gardening and storytelling. She always was in the midst of reading two or three books at a time. She had an insatiable desire to learn and experience new things. At age 44, she walked the Camino de Santiago across northern Spain and called it her life changing endeavor.
Dorothy is remembered as a woman who marched to her own drum, blazed her own path, and followed her heart and dreams. She was a strong, remarkable, and generous woman who touched many lives. Her beautiful smile will be sadly missed by all who knew her.
Dorothy is survived by her partner of 29 years, Lisa Carley, of Elma, Washington and her five siblings: Elizabeth Rough Hiller and husband Saul of Marana, Arizona, and their daughter Sarah Hiller of Salem, Oregon; Helen Rough and husband Jeremy Amayik Duckles of Wappingers Falls, New York; Thomas Rough and wife Sylviane of Poughquag, New York; Kevin Rough of Groton, Connecticut; and Victor Rough and wife Lina of Irvine, California; and many nieces and nephews.
Dorothy is predeceased by her parents Laura and Henry Rough of Poughquag, New York, and her beloved nephew Max Hiller.
At Dorothy’s request there will be no service. She requested that you live well, take care of yourself, and love one another. She requests that memorial donations be directed to your local no-kill animal shelter.
“Follow your dreams my friends, for life is truly short.”
Arrangements will be by Funeral Alternatives of Tumwater, Washington.
