John Doxey, Jr.
May 2, 1938 — October 8, 2017
John Rulon Doxey, Jr. passed away peacefully on Sunday, October 8, 2017, after a long struggle with Parkinson's disease. He was 79 years old.
John was born in Oakland, CA, on May 2, 1938, to John Rulon Doxey, Sr. and Edna Ekins Doxey. John had a happy childhood in Piedmont and Oakland, CA. He loved to ride his bike in the hills of Oakland and play basketball. He was a member of the Oakland High School basketball team where he held the record for 103 consecutive free throw shots in a row. As an adult, he continued to play on city and church leagues.
When he was 20, he served a mission for the LDS church in the Central Atlantic States, which included West Virginia, Virginia, and North Carolina. After he returned, he finished a Bachelor's of Science degree from Brigham Young University, majoring in Geography and minoring in History. While he was at BYU, he met his wife Kathryn Orme. They married in 1962. Soon after, they moved to Oklahoma where John received a Master's Degree in Regional and City Planning. They moved to Modesto in 1966, where he worked as a City Planner for many years. He also worked as a Land Developer and Real Estate Consultant.
John was an avid reader, loved gardening, camping and hiking in Yosemite, all Oakland Sports teams, BYU football, family history, playing games with family, and enjoying the outdoors. He was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and served as a Bishop of the Modesto 7th Ward and a member of the High Council.
He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Kathryn Orme Doxey, brother Ron Doxey (Bette), sister Carolyn Palfreyman (Earl), his children, Mike (Becky), Steve (Katrina), Jim (Jen), Suzi Matthes (Rudy), and Karen Stapley (Matt), and 20 grandchildren: Jessica, Madelyn and Emily Doxey, Ellen, Taylor, Cooper and Sam Doxey, Mallory Beutler (Jackson), Aly, Jake, Liana, and David Doxey, Mohammed, Minte, Ellie and Vivie Matthes, and Morgan, Mia, Noah and Ben Stapley.
A memorial service will be held Friday, October 13, 2017, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Sylvan Chapel at 2:00 pm. Visitors are welcome to visit with family between 1:00 – 1:45 pm.
There will be a graveside service in the Provo, Utah City Cemetery on Monday October 16, 2017 at 2:00 pm where John will be buried near his parents.
The family would like to thank Golden Age Home Care and Community Hospice, for their care of John. Donations can be made to The Alex Cohen Community Hospice House in Hughson, California.