Donald Sublett

Donald Weston Sublett Sr, passed away peacefully February 28, 2024, in Yakima, Washington. He was born July 12, 1934, in Wenatchee, Washington to Lionel and Viola (Duncan) Sublett. He was a dear brother to his sisters Marlene and Kay. From a young age he had an entrepreneurial mind and a love for hard work. There are many stories of his business endeavors. An early example is when he was in primary school, he would take his sister Kay in their wagon to collect the excess falling grain from the mill and rail cars and sell it to willing buyers on their way home. He graduated from RA Long High School in Longview, Washington, where he worked at Sears. He had a passion for learning and continued his education receiving multiple college degrees. This included an associate degree from Lower Columbia University in 1954 followed by a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the State College of Washington (WSC) in 1956 where he wasa proud member of the Theta Chi fraternity. He loved WSC which later became Washington State University (WSU), Go Cougs! After graduation he was drafted into the US Army and spent 18 months in Germany from 1956 to 1958. He married Arlene Johnson in 1958 and they settled in Yakima to start a family with their 3 daughters. Don went to Central Washington University (CWU) to obtain a bachelor of Arts in Education and his Master of Education in 1967 and 1972 respectively. During his CWU schooling, he owned and ran a tavern in Yakima to pay for his tuition and conquer another challenge. He taught Business Administration and DECA at AC Davis High School for 25 years. During his career as a teacher, he opened a Yakima storefront, Ornamental Gift and Fireplace Shop, in 1968starting his second career. After his first marriage ended Don met Sandra Scott, the love of his life. She shared Don’s love of working hard and together continued to build his businesses. In 1978 he started buying houses, kicking off a third parallel career as a rental property owner with Sandra. In the same year, they had a son who was his namesake Donald Weston Sublett II. Don embraced Sandra’s daughters Monette and Jolene as his own. Don and Sandra were together for 47 wonderful years. Together they built their lives around family and business. Don was an enthusiastic collector and loved thrifting. He started with English sports cars but included sports and Mickey Mouse memorabilia, Pendleton shirts, steins and mugs, toolboxes, clocks and anything Mariners, Seahawks or Cougar themed along the way. He had a sharp eye for value. Being a sports fanatic, he loved his trips to the Mariners spring training camp in Arizona when his sister Marlene could go with him. He also enjoyed traveling to car shows and pulling weeds! Don had an active mind but carried himself with quiet strength. He loved to observe and was incessantly curious about everything around him. His sense of humor was his most endearing quality with his sly smile and twinkle in his eye, he could make you laugh over the simplest thing. His unique observations will be missed. Don is survived by his wife Sandra, his son Donald (Leah) Sublett II, his daughters Tracy (David) Sublett, Tamera (Eric) Lundgren, Monette (Brian) Dennis and Jolene (Dan) Novack, a niece, 8 grandchildren and numerous great grandchildren. He was greatly loved. He is preceded in death by his parents, Lionel and Viola Sublett, his sisters Marlene (Don) Swanson and Kay David and his daughter Terry Sublett. Also, his beloved boxer dogs Blitz and Princess. There will be a private graveside service with the final resting place located near his parents at Terrace Heights Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, the family requests those who wish to express sympathy to consider donation the memory of Don to the American Heart Association or Washington State University. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Donald Sublett, please visit our flower store.