Obituary of Todd R. Gokey

Todd R. Gokey of 3499 Old Fluvanna Road, Jamestown, a retired director for Quality Markets, died at 9:20 a.m. Sunday (October 17, 2010) in his home with his wife and one of his sons by his side. He was 67. He died after a courageous battle with VHL (Von Hippel Lindau) disease, which he fought his entire life. Mr. Gokey was born March 20, 1943 in WCA Hospital, the son of the late Robert M. and Frances Fairbank Gokey. He graduated from Southwestern Central School in 1961 and joined the United States Navy in 1961, serving until 1964. He was on a Navy refueling ship during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Mr. Gokey was employed by Quality Markets for 37 years, retiring in 1998. He started as a stock clerk and was promoted to store manager, supervisor and retired as director of deli and bakery operations for the chain. In earlier years, Mr. Gokey enjoyed hunting with his sons. They canoed and hunted on many of the rivers and lakes in Chautauqua County. He supported his daughter in her many sporting events, with one of the highlights of his life being able to see Melissa compete in Ironman Lake Placid 2005. She raced in honor of her father and to raise money for VHL, and he was there to present her with her medal at the end of the competition. One of his fondest memories was traveling with his family to the West for six weeks, as well as family trips to the Caribbean. He always enjoyed traveling to visit his children and grandchildren. He will be remembered as a person with a very strong work ethic who enjoyed sharing time and conversations with family and friends, especially his boyhood friend Jerry Hanson. Surviving are his wife, Mary Flynn Gokey, whom he married February 5, 1966; two sons, Robert T. (Eliane Roberta) Gokey of El Paso, TX, and Steven M. (Hillary Oquist) Gokey of Maple Grove, MN; a daughter, Melissa A. (Scott) Thomas of Magnolia, TX; and nine grandchildren: Matheus, Catarina, Jacob and Joshua Gokey of El Paso, TX, Alexander and Anna Gokey of Maple Grove, MN and Lucas, Kaeden and Nathan Thomas of Magnolia, TX. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, M. Bruce Gokey who died May 28, 1990. The funeral will be held at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday in the Lind Funeral Home. The Rev. Donald E. Ray will officiate. Burial will be in Holy Cross Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday in the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, please make any donations to VHL Family Alliance, 2001 Beacon St., Suite 208, Boston, MA 02135 or by phone 1-800-767-4845 extension 4.