Bradley Marshall Rhoades

Duke Rhoades, renowned builder, devoted husband, father and grandfather, passed away at his home on January 18 of Lewy body dementia.

Duke was instantly drawn to people, genuinely curious about them and utterly unselfconscious. He left behind a wide circle of friends and a legacy of custom homes, constructed over five decades with exquisite attention to detail and his unique stamp of creativity. Duke envisioned the Treehouse community, one of Port Townsend's most distinctive communities. With QED Builders partner Carlos Quintana, architect Richard Berg, designer Rick Erickson, and his loyal crew, the thirty craftsman-style cottages were completed in 2004.

From his early 1970s business, "Don't Call Us We'll Call You Roofing," (with Tom Carroll and Bob Matheson) to his more ambitious company, QED Builders, Duke was propelled by a creative spirit and adventurous vision. He trained and mentored two generations of builders, several of whom carry on his spirit today.

Bradley Marshall Rhoades was born in Elgin, Illinois in 1946 to Bradley and Virginia Rhoades. He graduated from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in 1968 with a degree in psychology. After a brief stint teaching in Illinois, he came to Seattle where he established a candle company, selling his wares at Pike Place Market, and then to Port Townsend by way of the West End cutting cedar for shingles.

Duke arrived on the initial wave of early 1970s alternative settlers who helped establish the arts community Port Townsend became. With his partner, Bonnie Cullen, they raised two daughters, Vedra and Brigid, who inherited his spirit of adventure. The family lived on Ibiza for two years where Duke pursued fine woodworking.

After Duke and Bonnie parted ways, Duke met pianist Lisa Lanza, and quickly fell in love with Lisa and her music. They were married in 2003. Together they traveled the U.S., Canada, Europe, and Chile. Returning home, he was always ready to dive into his next project. Duke’s final work, his custom home overlooking Kah Tai lagoon, was completed in 2024.

Duke is survived by his wife Lisa; brother David of Scottsdale, Arizona; daughters Vedra O Murray-Otugen (Ahmet) of Los Angeles and Brigid Simone Rhoades (Rio) of Port Townsend, and grandchildren Ciela Shalom and Koa Ocean Foster Rhoades of Port Townsend. He was preceded in death by his sisters Marcia Rhoades and Linda Williamson.

A celebration of Duke’s life will follow in the spring. Donations may be made to the Jefferson Community Foundation. Family and friends are invited to share memories of Duke and sign the online guestbook.