Alex Shaner LoughryResident of Mountain ViewAlex Shaner Loughry passed away unexpectedly of a heart attack on Monday, October 2, 2017. He was 63 years old. A celebration of his life will take place on Sunday, November 5th at 2PM at the First United Methodist Church of Palo Alto, 625 Hamilton Avenue.Alex was born on February 21, 1954. He spent his first five years living in Maryland. Due to his natural mother's illness, Alice (his aunt) and Don Loughry, who both loved Alex dearly, adopted him in 1959 and brought him back with them to California. Alex became a big brother when Lynn was born later that year. At that point, the family was complete and has remained in Los Altos for 56 years. Alex received his Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from Chico State University. He could always be found in the computer lab during his college days. After college he moved back to the peninsula. For the last seventeen years, he lived in Mountain View. Alex worked as a software engineer, mainly in the field of routers, for 30 years. Networking, product development and support were his areas of responsibilities. He was a very hard worker and often received commendation for working overtime to solve a problem. His co-workers could always count on him to help in any way possible - and to do it with good humor. As one friend noted "Alex was such a good man with not an unkind bone in his body." Alex was involved in a self-help group for recovering over -workers (people who push themselves well beyond the norm.) At a time when this fellowship was facing a leadership vacuum, he stepped into a service role that touched the lives of hundreds of people who struggle with these issues.Alex was a man of wide ranging interests and diverse talents. He applied himself with a whole hearted gusto to all of his endeavors, but the most striking aspect of Alex was his strong and gentle nature. He was always willing to help, and would remain outwardly calm in the midst of turmoil. He was a "gentle giant" who will be sorely missed by all who knew and loved him. His favorite comment when needed was "Everything will be OK." Not only supportive to friends, family, and co-workers he knew, Alex also valued supporting the broader community. He was particularly proud of being one of the best givers of his universal donor blood type to the Stanford Blood Bank. Alex was pleased to have given over 100 pints of blood in his lifetime. Alex appreciated art in many forms. Bonsai was his most time consuming hobby. Alex and his father, Don, enjoyed many hours together working on plants and going to Bonsai conferences. Alex made ink hand sketches of Bonsai plants at the shows and made calendars of his art as gifts. He also was a volunteer worker at the Golden Bonsai Federation Garden at Lake Merritt in Oakland.His favorite pastimes were watching Warriors games, going to local plays, flower shows, Stanford jazz concerts, and art museums. He kept up with current events and was especially interested in foreign affairs. When Alex had a vacation he would usually spend time driving north with Jaine (his significant other), enjoying the California and Oregon coast in many spots and then arriving in the state of Washington.Alex had a smile and a hearty laugh and seemed so strong. His heart attack was a shock to all who knew him. Alex was preceded in death by his father, Don Loughry. Alex is survived by his mother, Alice Loughry, his sister Lynn Bergquist (Rick Bergquist) and his niece Kristina Luquist (Devin Luquist), nephew Eric Bergquist, his uncle David H. Phillips (Ruth Phillips) and extended family, aunt Janet Loughry and family, and Jaine Reese, his significant other.Contributions in Alex's memory may be made to the GSBF Bonsai Garden at Lake Merritt, P.O. Box 16176, Oakland, CA 94610-6176. It is a tax-deductible, charitable and educational organization. View the online memorial for Alex Shaner Loughry