Dee Jay Bloxham

Dee Jay Bloxham, husband, father, brother, grandfather, great-grandfather, uncle, cousin, and friend, passed through the veil on March 27, 2021 surrounded by family at the age of 90.

Dee’s life was one of service: to family, to country, to community, and to God. He was born in Kaysville, Utah on August 22, 1930 to William Heber Bloxham and Nelda Vaughn Graham. He adored his father and mother and strived to live a life worthy of his parentage. Dee graduated from Ogden High School and later answered a call to serve in the United States Army during the Korean War. He was honorably discharged from active service in 1953 and spent the following years in the reserves.

On September 24, 1955, Dee married the love of his life, Mabel Ann Dastrup, and the two would remain inseparable throughout the next 65-plus years of marriage. They spent almost all of their married lives in Harrisville, where they raised a family of eight wonderful children. Family was the cornerstone of the Bloxhams.

Dee was a man of many talents. He was tremendously capable with his hands and would often be found in his garage shop. Dee loved sports and was a nationally accredited baseball umpire and football and basketball official. He loved BYU Football and enjoyed both going to games with family and watching the Cougars on television. Win-or-lose, he was always loyal. And you’d never hear him complain about the officials: He knew how hard the job was! Dee was a self-trained musician, even turning some of that knowledge into a wonderfully memorable piano song, “Gibson Girl.” His skills in the kitchen were also memorable—particularly his famous lasagna. The kitchen was a place where he and Ann would host Sunday dinners. They hosted weekly, for decades upon decades, keeping an open invitation to anyone and everyone interested to socialize together amidst the glow of great food and hospitality.

Some of his and Ann’s favorite pastimes included spending time with a number of their closest friends, especially Howard Gibson and Brent Haney—whether going to dinner, visiting one another in their homes, or square dancing the night away—Dee was at home when he was with Ann and they were enjoying each other’s company in the midst of colleagues they loved. The quantity and quality of friendships that he created stands as a testament to the goodness of his soul and the truth that all those who met Dee wanted to associate with him.

Professionally, Dee was known throughout the Ogden-area for his long-service as a Postman for the United States Postal Service. He was a civil servant at heart, learning and cultivating relationships with all on his mail route. Dee was honored by the USPS as outstanding postal worker for the Intermountain West for his exceptional work.  He continued to assist the Postal Service in training and sales even after his days of daily delivery came to an end. Dee also spent a considerable amount of his work life with the Railroad. He was hardworking and honest in whatever vocational endeavor he pursued.

Dee was a lifelong member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. His love of Heavenly Father and his faith in Jesus Christ were foundational to his persona and he was always willing to follow the example of his Savior in all that he said and did. He had a powerful testimony of the Restoration of the Gospel and he and Ann served for many years as ordinance workers in the Ogden Temple. He found great joy in serving his brothers and sisters in his many church callings outside the temple, all of which allowed his many talents to shine forth for the betterment of others: Elders Quorum President, Ward Dance Director, Stake Sports Director, Temple Prep Teacher, Organist, High Priest Group Leader, Primary Teacher, Ward Clerk, Sunday School President, and Stake Seventy Quorum President.  His most prized knowledge was the assurance that his family was forever. That his marriage to Ann would continue beyond death and that they could return to live in the presence of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. And that they would enjoy the eternal associations of their children, their grandchildren, their great-grandchildren, their parents, their friends, and all those they loved so dearly.

Dee adored his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren and was their biggest advocate. You could always find Dee at a child’s ball game, concert, play, graduation, marriage, or any other endeavor where his family needed support. Time spent with his family was of the utmost importance and he was always available. Family was his foundation and he spent his life in their service.

Whether you called him husband, dad, grandpa, brother, uncle, cousin, or friend, you knew his smile and his look of genuine interest in the details of your life. If you knew Dee, you remembered how his quiet demeanor was a calming influence on all who associated with him. If you knew Dee, you could never forget his kindness, compassion, charity, and goodness. If you knew Dee, you loved Dee. If you knew Dee, you will miss Dee. And if you knew Dee, you know that he has entered a new life beyond this world and that he will be so very happy to see all of us when we see him again. We can’t wait for that reunion.

Dee Jay Bloxham is survived by his loving wife of more than six and a half decades, Ann; his eight children: Linda (Michael) Cassidy, Curt (Kris) Bloxham, Drew (Kathryn) Bloxham, Jeff (Kit) Bloxham, Shane Bloxham, DeeAnn (Dell) Christensen, Shannon (Charles) Olesen, and Shelby (Nathan) Taylor; his 27 grandchildren; his 28 great-grandchildren; and his sister, Joan Alonzo. He was preceded in death by his parents William and Nelda; and two of his grandchildren, Carson Cassity and Tyler Cassity.

A public viewing and memorial will be held in Dee’s honor on Friday, April 2, 2021 from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m., and Saturday, April 3, prior to services from 10:00 – 10:40 a.m.  Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 3, 2021, at Myers Mortuary, 845 Washington Blvd., Ogden, Utah.  Interment will be at Evergreen Memorial Park, 100 Monroe, Ogden, Utah. Dee's service will be live streamed at 11AM, to watch scroll to the bottom of his obituary page.

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