Valley County, IDGenWeb Project | |
Jack Bixby, 86, passed away peacefully Feb. 14, 2011 in Layton, Utah, from complications of Alzheimer’s disease. He joined his life-long sweetheart and beloved wife Pat on St. Valentine’s Day.
Jack will be missed by the many people whose lives he touched during his long life. His humorous, easy-going, generous, optimistic, and loving spirit was one of a kind.
He is survived by his children, Jonathan (Adrian) Bixby of Santa Barbara, Calif.; Mary Bixby of Portland Ore.; Steve (Teresa) Bixby, of McCall; and Susan (Chris) Congleton Moore, of Layton Utah; grandchildren Doug Bixby, Jessica (Nathan)
Bixby Yoder, Brianna Bixby Epstein, Josh Congleton, Justin (Laura) Congleton, Jesse Congleton, Jason Congleton, Jared Congleton and Jordon Congleton; and great-grandchildren Lily Congleton (Justin), Kaya Congleton (Jesse), Macky Congleton (Jared) and Spencer Goicoechea (Jessica).
Jack was born July 2, 1924 in Spokane, Wash., the son of Clarence Wilson Bixby and Mildred Elizabeth Fike.
At a young age his family moved to Southern California, where he spent the next 73 years.
After graduating from high school Jack served in the US Navy during World War II. He took pride in being the most efficient and profitable storekeeper in the Navy.
After the service Jack went into the grocery business. In 1948 he married Alice Patricia Beard, who became the love of his life for the next 53 years.
In 1962 Jack opened a fireplace specialty store, Fireside Mart, in Ventura, Calif., where he then moved his family. Twenty-five years later, Jack and Pat sold Fireside Mart and began a new chapter in their lives together. They enjoyed RV camping and traveling to visit their children and grandchildren.
Shortly after Jack and Pat moved to Portland Ore., in 2001 to be near their daughter Mary and granddaughter Brianna, Pat passed suddenly. Jack wanted to move to McCall where his son Steve, daughter Susan, and grandchildren live. Jack loved the mountains and his new home surrounded by beautiful tall trees.
In 2007 when his Alzheimer’s worsened, Jack moved back to Portland to live with Mary and Brianna. Jack enjoyed watching Brianna play soccer. A year later it was necessary to move Jack into a private nursing home near Susan in Layton Utah. Jack enjoyed all his new friends at Beehive Home and especially loved helping the owner with grocery shopping.
Jack loved to tell stories about his days in the Navy. And tell, and tell, and tell. Bless the hearts of all those who listened patiently, and listened, and listened, and listened.
A family service will be held at sea (Depoe Bay, Ore.) where his ashes will be scattered.
The family has set up an online Memorial fund for Alzheimer’s research. The memorial can be viewed and donations can be made at www.alz.org.
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