Julie Doster

Julie Doster, a wonderful wife and mother, stepped from this life and into eternity with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ Saturday morning at 5:18, Sept. 23, 2023. She was surrounded by our family as her fight with cancer came to an end. Julie fought the good fight, ran the race, and we know Jesus told her, “Well-done, good and faithful servant. Enter my rest.”

Her faith is now sight, and we take comfort in that she is in the arms of Jesus. Our hearts ache knowing we won’t see her again this side of Heaven, but we find hope in Revelation 21:4. It says, “He (Jesus) will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

Julie, who was born June 22, 1960, is preceded in death by her father Joseph Dunham and mother Gail La Fargue, and is survived by her husband David Doster of 38 years, their children – son Benjamin and his wife Sara Ann, daughter Bethany, son Samuel and his wife Lauren, and her sister Dana Dixon, and nephews Joseph and Julian Dixon.

She leaves a legacy of godliness and grace, and never complained during her cancer battle nor through her nearly three decades of pain from her struggles with Rheumatoid Arthritis. Instead, she chose gratitude and joy. You could find Julie sitting in her chair, listening to Scripture, and worshiping even as her body wasted away.

Julie was a faithful wife and mother, who loved and served her family with cheerfulness and joy. Her selfless commitment to her husband and children were a beautiful example of putting the needs and desires of others before her own. She stood by her husband their entire marriage, and was his greatest human advocate. Julie loved her children. She was a safe place for them, and along with their dad, was their biggest cheerleader and encourager.

Their home was always filled with warmth and hospitality, because that’s who Julie was. She loved cooking and baking for her family and for others, too. Julie enjoyed hosting and entertaining guests. Her heart was one of tenderness and compassion for others, especially those most people didn’t notice. She would look for ways to serve and care for them. Julie loved cooking and crocheting for others, and it seemed as if she was always delivering meals or blankets, she made to folks when she was healthy.

Our hearts hurt. We are mourning, and feel great sadness. But we will grieve with hope, and we’re choosing to believe the Apostle Paul’s words:

“Since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words” (1 Thessalonians 4:14-18).

We’re heartbroken, but we’re relieved that Julie is no longer in pain or suffering. We’re also so thankful for her life. It was such a precious gift and privilege to have her as a wife and mother. God was so kind to give her to us. She was a treasure. To know Julie was to love her.

This is not the end. We will see her again thanks to Jesus. In the meantime, we will remember and celebrate the life she lived, and cling to Christ.

We love you, Julie, and we’re so thankful for you. You were one of God’s most amazing blessings in our lives.

The family will receive friends at Gateway Bible Church in Morganton, NC Saturday from 1:30 PM to 3:00 PM, Oct. 7, and Julie’s celebration of life will follow immediately afterward.

Sossoman Funeral Home and Crematory Center is assisting the family with the arrangements.