Daniel Phillip Choate

Daniel Phillip Choate, 77 of Yelm, Washington passed away Saturday, September 24, 2016 at the University of Washington Medical Center in Seattle following a brave two year battle with leukemia.

Dan was born in Caraway, Arkansas, January 3, 1939. He resided in the Yelm area with his loving wife Anna for over 40 years building a legacy for their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. A proud family man, he was respected and loved by all, but was especially known to never pass up a chance to snuggle the youngest of the bunch. In his spare time he enjoyed fishing and hunting, and passed on many traditions to those that saw him as their hero. You couldn’t have asked for a better Dad and Grandpa, he was constantly in the stands or on the sidelines. Never needing much of a reason to visit family, he and Anna ventured often around the country connecting with those he loved the most.

Dan was a hard-working man who during his younger days served our country for seven years in the Army Reserves. During this same time, with his first wife, Terry Bradley, he worked as a meat cutter and ran his own store, Danny’s Market, in Las Vegas, Nevada. He dedicated the next 50 years of his career to the construction industry. Over the last 25 years he built, owned and operated Rainier Valley Construction, specializing in underground utilities.

Dan was preceded in death by his parents John and Rosa Choate, eight brothers Julius, Paul, Walter, Hershel “Dick”, Dallard, Raymond “Bo”, Eual, and Johnnie Choate, and four sisters Nellie Arivett, Ethel “Dot” Minor, Rosie Choate, and Ella Mae Sedgwick.

Dan is survived by his wife Anna, brother Richard Choate of California, sister Dolly Wagner of Nebraska, daughter Sheryl Choate, son Robert Choate, son Berkley (Jan) Choate, son Daniel (Michelle) Choate, son Charles (Sheri) Chiri, daughter Yvonne (Ken) Knutson, daughter Lisa (Todd) Williams, son Stanley (Tracie) Choate, son John Choate, daughter Christina Choate, 21 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren and numerous other deeply loved family members.

He will be greatly missed by all of the lives he touched.

Service will be held October 1, 2016 at Crossroad Community Covenant Church 11520 Bald Hill Road SE, Yelm, WA 98597.
Viewing: 9 am to 10 am
Service: 10 am to 11:30 am

He will be laid to rest at the Yelm Cemetery, 11540 Cemetery Road SE, Yelm, WA 98597, 11:30 am to 12:00 pm.

Celebration of Life will follow at Prairie Hotel, 700 Prairie Park Lane, Yelm, WA 98597, between 12 and 4 pm.

In lieu of flowers, donation can be made to Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, http://www.seattlecca.org/get-involved/make-donation.