Douglas Dean Southwick

Douglas Dean Southwick, age 86, passed away on Wednesday, July 16, 2025, in St. George (STG), Utah. During his career with the United States Air Force (USAF) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Doug and his family lived in France and Germany, and many places throughout the United States. He settled with his wife Michele in STG to live close to family. Doug was born in Ogden, Utah on December 17, 1938. He was the first child of Darwin and Miriam Southwick. As a youth, he lived with his family in Ogden (1938-1949), and then they moved to Willits, California (1949-1954), and then Lucerne Valley, California (1954-1955). In 1955, when Doug was 16 years old, Doug moved to Stromsburg, Nebraska to live with his Aunt Laverne and Uncle Ray Burke. There he worked on their farm and attended school until his high school graduation. Doug returned to Lucerne Valley for the summer to be with his family. It was there in 1957 that he joined the USAF. Doug attended jet engine school at Sheppard Air Force Base in Wichita Falls, Texas. From there he went to Evreux, France for his first assignment. Not long after arriving, Doug met his wife Michele Auffret, while she was out walking with John Blake and Anny Auffret, an Air Force friend and his girlfriend, Michele’s sister. It was love at first sight. Doug persuaded his friend to get him a date with Michele, and not too long after, Doug proposed, and they were married. They had a French civil marriage, and a church wedding performed by a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint Branch President at the base chapel. After Michele joined the Church, they were married in the Swiss Temple and had their two children sealed to them. In total, there were five marriages in three languages, English, French, and German (in the Swiss Temple). Within the first two years of marriage, while still in France, they had two children, Valerie and Dennis. In 1962, they were reassigned to Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque (ABQ), New Mexico. In 1965, Doug was the supervisor of a maintenance team that got orders to the Phan Rang Air Base, in the South Central Coast region of Vietnam. At the end of the tour, he returned to Kirtland Air Force Base and was promoted to Tech Sargeant. There he was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal, and was then transferred to Moody AFB in Valdosta, Georgia. In 1972, Doug was advanced to Master Sargeant and was then transferred to Zweibrucken, Germany. In 1975, while still in Germany, Doug was promoted to Senior Master Sargeant. He was selected to attend the Air University’s Senior Non-Commissioned Officer executive development course, in Montgomery. Alabama. He graduated with honors and choose the training school for his next assignment. From 1976 to 1979, he was the leader of the Seminary “F” troop at Gunter Air Force Station, in Montgomery. Doug retired after that assignment, which awarded him the Second and Third Oak Leaf Cluster to his Meritorious Service Medal. After retirement, Doug was hired by Afric-Air and the couple moved to Miami. Doug then traveled from there throughout Africa. By this time, Doug and Michele were empty nesters. He serviced Cessna aircraft and Bell helicopters in 11 countries in Central Africa. In 1981, Doug took a civil service position with the Department of Army at the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. In 1989, Doug decided to move to Ft. Worth, Texas, to work as a Management Analyst with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). In 2002, Doug retired from FAA and they moved to Trenton, Missouri, to live near Michele’s sister and family. After Trenton, they lived in STG from 2004-2007 to be near Doug’s family. In 2007, they moved to St. Joseph, Missouri. Doug and Michele’s final move took them back to STG in 2015 to live again near the Southwick family again. While in Germany, Michele convinced Doug to begin college courses on base, which resulted in an Associate Degree in Aviation Manager Technology (and an FAA Airframe and Powerplant license). While serving at the Air University in Montgomery, Doug continued his education, earning a Master’s Degree in Human Relations and Counseling. He also started post-graduate work on Abnormal Human Behavior. Doug was a certified Meyers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) facilitator and enjoyed helping people learn about themselves with this personality assessment tool. Doug, a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, served in a variety of callings. He was a dedicated Home Teacher throughout his life. In Fayetteville, he was a Stake High Councilman, and in Trenton, he was a member of the Bishopric. In Dallas/Ft. Worth, he and Michele served in the Baptistry of the Dallas Temple for 11 years. In St. Joseph, Doug was the Ward Mission Leader. In his free time, Doug liked to do a range of activities. He enjoyed: restoring antique clocks, antiquing, restoring furniture, rock hunting, and fishing. He was an avid woodworker and created stools, shelves, doll beds. and more. He could fix anything that was fixable. He liked to cook and bake for Mom and visiting family members, and prepared a delicious breakfast of fruit and toast for Mom each morning. He also cleaned up all of his cooking and baking messes! Dad was an extrovert and loved to talk with people and tell jokes and share funny stories. Doug is survived by his beloved wife Michele of 66 plus years; his daughter Valerie Southwick (STG); and his son Dennis (wife Holly) Southwick (ABQ). His eight grandchildren: Valerie’s sons Kevin, Quinn (partner Andrew), Cory (wife Miken), and Colin (partner Sarah); Dennis’ children Travis, Taylor, Trent (wife Chloe), and Tate Southwick. Doug also has ten great grandchildren: Kevin--Brooklyn and Olive; Cory and Miken--Holden, Harlow, Henlee, and Holland; Colin and Sarah--Amelia, Elijah, and Caroline; and Trent and Chloe--Jovie. Doug is also survived by his siblings Susan Ray, Mike (wife Teresa) Southwick, Leonard (wife Debbie) Southwick, and each of their children and grandchildren. He is also survived by Michele’s sister Anny (husband John) Blake, Pierre (wife Marina) Auffret, and each of their children and grandchildren.