Auburn Mayor Pete Lewis and the City of Auburn were saddened to learn of the death of John D. Bothell, Sr., 80, who passed away unexpectedly Friday during an outdoor adventure in the Desert Wildlife Area near Moses Lake, a place he loved to frequent most of his life as an avid water fowler.

Bothell was active in the Auburn community, having served as past president of the Kiwanis Club, a member of the YMCA of Auburn Board of Directors, Auburn Auto Dealers, King County Auto Dealers, Washington State Auto Dealers, Masonic Lodge, Auburn Area Chamber of Commerce, Shriners and was a contributor to the Ducks Unlimited and Delta Waterfowl Wildlife Organizations.

A graduate of Auburn High School, he also served in the U.S. Navy and earned his business certification from the General Motors Dealer Business School.

Bothell was born in Seattle on March 28, 1930, to the late Howard Sr. and Dorothy Bothell, founders of the Bothell Chevrolet Company in Auburn that later became Bothell Brother’s Chevrolet. Bothell and his brother, Howard Bothell Jr., took over the family business, eventually changing the name to Auburn Chevrolet. The brothers sold the family business in 2001.

According to the family, Bothell will be remembered for the love and leadership he provided to his family and his love for the Lord as a member of the Overcomer Covenant Church of Auburn. He was an avid outdoorsman with a passion for hunting and fishing. He also had a very distinctive laugh and a warm smile for everyone he came in contact with.

He is survived by his brother Howard, Jr., daughter Johann, sons John Jr. and James, and his grandchildren, Leslie, Ryan, Ashley, Andrew, Gabrielle and Preston.

Services will be held on Saturday, March 5 at 9 a.m. at Overcomer Covenant Church, 33415 Military Road S., Auburn. Burial will take place immediately after the services at Auburn’s Mountain View Cemetery, 2020 Mountain View Drive.

An open house celebration of Bothell’s life will follow burial in the upper floor of the Truitt Building, 102 W. Main St. Remembrances can be made to the Auburn Food Bank, 930 18th Place NE, Auburn, and/or the White River Valley Museum Mary Olson Farm, 918 H St. SE, Auburn.

On line sentiments are available at www.price-heltonfuneralhome.com.