Obituary of Alan D. Doi

Alan D. Doi Unadilla, NY Alan Dale Doi, known as "Butch" by his family, many friends and acquaintances, passed away peacefully at his home in Unadilla, NY on Friday, November 20, 2009. Born April 23, 1953 in Sidney, NY, he was a loyal employee of Astrocom (Oneonta, NY). Butch was tragically predeceased by his younger brother Kenny as well as his father Scottie. He is survived by his mother Kay Ouye Doi of Hilo, HI; his sister Karen Sue Chong and her husband, Ellis of Seattle, WA, uncles Robert and Sabu and aunts Ruth and Ha-chan also of Hawaii, many cousins in Hawaii and the continental US, including David and Carolyn Doi, Pat and Jim Delany and Doug and Sandy Doi. Butch worked for Amphenol Corporation for many years before moving to Hilo, Hawaii in 1990. He made many friends there and faithfully corresponded with them for many years. After working at various jobs in Hilo, in 1999 his yearning for home brought Alan back to Sidney. Butch loved music. He was very interested in "progressive rock". He could play most instruments by ear, and play back any song, note for note, after hearing it only once. It was only a matter of time until Butch steered many conversations to the "glory days" of "underground radio", more specifically the heyday of radio station W.O.U.R. (Utica) in the late sixties and early seventies. The incredible music of that era still filled his music library. Butch also loved to travel. Including his 10 year hiatus in Hawaii, Butch counted among his favorite memories trips to Albuquerque, NM, San Francisco, CA, an especially two trips to North Carolina to attend the weddings of cousin Jim's boys, Mike and Chris Doi. It was here that he exhibited his other great love in public: eating! His extra healthy appetite stunned family and strangers alike. Except for the Hawaii years, he attended the famous Payne/Doi Thanksgiving dinner for 50 years. Butch was a good, honest, interesting person and will be greatly missed at this year's dinner (although each persons portion of rice will increase significantly) by his first cousins: Mark Payne and his children, Hana Payne, Willa Payne and Neal Miley, and Grace Payne and Chad Smith; Randy Payne and his children, Riley Payne and Dara Friedman Weiss and Rita Payne; Peggy Payne Phelps and husband Fran; and Jim and Patti Jo Doi, and their children, Mike Doi and wife Christy, and Chris Doi and wife Courtney. Butch was also a seriously devoted Christian and was a member of the Sidney Sacred Heart Church for over 50 years. He never missed Mass without a good reason. We can't help but conclude that Butch now resides in his Heaven where every meal is Thanksgiving, with a great progressive rock soundtrack and he is reunited with his father and brother. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 1:00pm on Friday, December 4, 2009 at Sacred Heart Church in Sidney, with Rev. Fr. Gordon Polenz, pastor officiating. Burial will follow at Prospect Hill Cemetery, Sidney. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to the American Cancer Society at www.cancer.org. Expressions of sympathy may be sent to the family online at www.landersfh.com. Arrangements under the direction of C.H. Landers Funeral Chapel 21 Main St. Sidney.