A long-time resident of Tri-Cities, & Port Hadlock WA, Dee Gray Meek died peacefully at his home in Kalispell, MT on April 15th , 2024. Known as “Buddy” in his early years, he was born in Salt Lake City, UT on October 17, 1930 and attended school there and in Chico, California. After studies at Sacramento Junior College and the College of the Pacific in Stockton, Dee graduated in 1954 from the California State Technical College (Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo).
He married Annette Weissenborn in 1958 while a student of Veterinary Medicine at Washington State University, Pullman. Becoming “Dr. Meek” in 1962, he and his growing family moved to Kennewick, where he specialized in equine surgery and small animal practice at the Highlands Veterinary Clinic. He left to serve on the veterinary faculty of WSU for two years, returning to Richland in 1976 to build The Animal Medical Center.
Dee served his community in many roles: as beloved Veterinarian; as Captain of the Benton Franklin Mounted Posse and Manager of both racetrack grounds and rodeo; and on the Board of Directors of the Mid-Columbia Symphony, Richland Rotary, Kadlec Hospital and the Richland Players – where he also acted and worked backstage. Proud of his Scottish heritage, he played in the Desert Thistle Pipe and Drum Band. Dee also held the office of President of the Washington State Veterinary Medical Association and was a lifelong WSU supporter and Cougar football fan. After serving two years in the United States Army at Fort Lewis, WA, Dee continued in the Army Reserves Veterinary Corps as a Citizen Soldier until his retirement at the rank of Full Colonel.
Divorced in 1991, Dee married Sara Erickson Sako in 1992, relocating in 2000 to Port Hadlock on Washington’s Olympic Peninsula. Retirement included adventures on “The Elmore” - their 1890 wooden Tugboat - and international travels to visit their children. In 2022 they moved to Kalispell to be near family and the Montana mountains. Losing a son (Andrew) in 1990, Dee is survived by wife Sara, first wife Annette Gordon, daughters Deanne Meek and Charlene Collison, grandchildren Phoebe and Oscar, and by stepchildren Gus Sako (Shari Frazier), Tony Sako (Yvonne Sands), Katie Sako (Kendall Flint), and grandchildren Joshua, Noah, Mylin, Carly, Miki, Aluna and Charlie.
Dee Meek was dearly loved and will be missed by many. A celebration of his life will be held in Richland, WA on August 10, 2024 at Barnard Griffin Winery at 4:00 p.m. RVSP appreciated, to 917 855-9020. An additional informal gathering to raise a glass to Dee will be held at the Pourhouse, Port Townsend (2231 Washington Street) on Thursday, August 8th at 6:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Dee and Andrew Meek Fund at the Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine, P.O. Box 647010, Pullman, WA 99164.
