Deborah Ann Watson-Doty

Deborah Watson Doty, 72, of Eaton CO, passed away peacefully from this realm, June 3, 2026. She was born Sept. 14, 1953 to Ray and Nita Watson in Grand Island, NE. After graduating from Grand Island Senior High School, Deb attended the University of Nebraska before transferring to Hastings College. Her interest was in photography, and she soon entered the professional photo school in Dayton, OH. After graduating with Honors from the Ohio Institute of Photography, she remained in Ohio where she worked for a newspaper in the area, gaining quite a reputation as an expert photographer. She stayed in the Dayton area for a few years before returning to Grand Island.

Back home in Nebraska, she sold photographic equipment for Miller and Paine and was eventually hired by Hal Maggiore Photography and Camera Shop as a darkroom tech, framing and photo equipment salesperson, where she met her future husband. With marriage, she and husband Jon Doty bought an existing photography business, Thomas Studio, in Hastings, NE. Along with her photography, Deb enjoyed working with computers and worked for the Doniphan K-12 school as a Network Administrator.

With her experience working for a newspaper in Ohio, Deb also became co-owner and Editor of the Doniphan Herald newspaper in Doniphan, NE. She ran the newspaper for five years, until she and Jon moved to Colorado, for the love of the mountains. In Colorado, Deb made a career change, going to work for Hewlett Packard, where she worked as a Level 2 Technical support Engineer.

Deb was very much a horse person. She had a horse for 17 years, Swinger, and she loved seeing the newborn foals each spring. After retirement from HP, she photographed the wild horses of Colorado.

All who knew Deb, loved her. One of her last wishes was that family, friends and acquaintances should contribute to a hospice organization. There will be no funeral. In lieu of a memorial service, it’s Deb’s wish that family and friends go out for a beverage, a meal, and slice of Sister Mary’s apple pie.

Deb is survived by her husband, Jon Doty; daughter Corey; son Jared; grandson, Landon; granddaughter, Violet (who Deb pulled over to deliver on Hwy 14, in Jon’s pick-up truck, and proceeded to drive to the hospital); sister, Pamela McClanahan; brother-in-law, Nofle McClanahan; sister-in-law, Tina Andreasen; brother-in-law, Mike Andreasen; a host of nieces and nephews, most notable being Alison Baker and Reid McClanahan; and Australian cattle dog, Rubi (Her Little Red Shadow).

A celebration of Deb’s life will be held at a later time.