Douglas Jackson Mead

Douglas Jackson Mead passed away on December 6, 2023, after a long battle with Parkinson's disease, surrounded by loved ones including his care providers, Heaven and Lynette. He was born to Jackson Hewett Mead and Adeline Endean Martin on February 1, 1938, in Doctor Miller's hospital on Main Street, in Porterville, California. Adeline came to the US by steamer from Canada by way of Australia and New Zealand while running the German U-boat blockage during WWI. Jackson's family immigrated to the Valley from Missouri and established themselves as citrus growers in the Vandalia District in 1910. At the time of Douglas's birth the family lived at La Celia - the ranch with the palm drive on the east side of Plano south of the college.

He loved the mountains and spent a lot of time at Alpine Village and the high county of the sierras. Shooting was also at the top of his list. He built guns and shot squirrels. He graduated from Porterville High and Porterville College, and then went on to graduate from San Francisco State College with a degree in government. Douglas entered the Navy for two years and spent time in Guam. When Douglas returned home in the 50's and went to work for California packing company Del Monte as a supervisor. In 1969 he returned to Porterville to accept the position as a supervisor at Beckman Instruments. After 31 years with Beckman he retired in 1999. He enjoyed serving his community as a Rotarian for many years. After retirement Doug and Jody traveled a lot.

Doug was preceded in death by his father Jackson Mead and his mother Adeline Mead as well as his grandparents Siemore Seth Mead and Anga Mead. He is survived by his wife of 32 years Jody Mead; his 2 step children, Christie Hulse of Porterville and Brian Hulse of Visalia; a step granddaughter, Ashley Downey of Long Beach; his brother in law, Frank Spradlin (Cathy) of San Jacinto; Niece, Debbie Brady (Mark) and their children Rachel and Joshua Brady of Winslow, Arizona; brother, Dick Mead (Charlotte) of Agoura Hills; nieces, Candra Coogan (Kevin) of Moor Park and Christy Gallager (Rob) of Newport Beach; great nieces, Samantha Gallager of Palm Springs and Maggie Gallager of New York, Lauren Vanguard of Glendale, Daneille Coogan of Moor Park and Nicole Coogan of Ft Collins, Colorado.

A Chapel service will be held at Myers Chapel in Porterville, California on Friday, December 29, 2023 at 10:00 AM. Interment will be private.

To share a memory, or express condolences to the family, please visit the tribute section of our website at www.myersfuneral.com/obituaries <http://www.myersfuneral.com/obituaries>. Myers Funeral Service & Crematory in Porterville is in charge of arrangements.