Vincent Doan Obituary

Vincent Doan
It is with deep sorrow and profound love that we announce the passing of our beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, shepherd, teacher, mentor, and friend, Vincent Doan, who went to be with the Lord on the morning of June 4, 2025.
Vince left this life as he lived—quietly, faithfully, and with a heart fully surrendered to God’s will. He often said his life was not goal-driven, but Spirit-led. For him, the journey was never about personal achievement but about obedience to God. The Spirit opened doors, and he walked through them with humility and grace.
Born in 1936 in a log cabin beneath a chinaberry tree in a place called Lick Skillet in Fannin County, Texas, Vince was raised by devoted, God-fearing parents, Norman and Opal, and a beloved aunt, Myrtle Smith, who double-teamed as his second mother. Though raised in a loving Christian home, and often challenged by rules he didn’t yet understand, Vince came to embrace the Biblical values his parents cherished.
Vince’s father was a farmer, a butcher, and a lay preacher who served over time nearly every small Church of Christ in Fannin County, Texas. It was a heritage Vince honored all his life. Growing up, Vince thrived in band, was active in FFA, and even judged chickens at the FFA state level. After graduating from Bonham High School, he went on to Abilene Christian College, where he earned a mathematics degree in just three years and received a scholarship for graduate studies in radiological physics from the United States Atomic Energy Commission.
This path led Vince to Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, where he studied radiological physics and, later, migrated to the upstart field of computer science. But campus ministry quickly became his spiritual calling. While he spent summers working in radiological physics at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, he taught Bible classes and began preaching at Rock Springs Church of Christ. It was during this time that he met Maxine Hart. They married the following spring, and began a decades-long, loving partnership in faith, parenting, and ministry.
Vince served as the Church of Christ campus minister at Vanderbilt for five years. Though he cherished the work, with the blessings of a growing family, Dana in 1961 and Darby in 1966, he took a full-time position with DuPont in Old Hickory, Tennessee as a computer software programmer and systems analyst. For nine years, he balanced a professional career with family and preaching at Rock Springs, eventually moving to Dallas to pursue new opportunities at Texas Instruments and then E-Systems (later Raytheon), where he worked for 25 years.
Living out his faith, however, remained a focus of his life. He preached, taught class, supported missions, and served in benevolence. Always humble, Vince served more than 25 years with various mission outreaches, including those in Kenya, Papau New Guinea, Greece, and Northern Ireland. He also worked with the Highland Oaks Church of Christ “Caring and Sharing” ministry and as an Elder at Highland Oaks, quietly shepherding others with care and compassion.
Vince also exhibited faith and devotional while suffering personal losses. His mother, Opal, was diagnosed with cancer and passed away in 1984. Maxine, after a seventeen year battle with cancer, succumbed in 1993. Just months later, he lost both his second mother, Myrtle, and his father Norman. Yet he always believed that God had answered their prayers—especially Maxine’s prayer to live long enough to see their children married and their first grandchildren born.
In 1998, Vince married Nedra Kannady, who brought new joy into his life sharing a love for hospitality, mission work, and benevolence. Together they continued to serve, shepherd, and minister, opening their home and hearts to countless others.
Vince is survived by his loving wife, Nedra Doan; his daughter, Dana Cooper; his son, Darby Doan, and daughter-in-law, Jennifer.
He is survived by his grandchildren and great-grandchildren:
• Dakota Cooper, wife Bailey and son Dean Cooper
• Benton Cooper, wife Kennedy and daughter Reese Cooper
• Mariel Bough and husband, Graham
• Katherine Anne Doan
• Johanna Claire Doan
He is also survived by three cousins: Millard Doan Brent, Susan Doan Griffin, and Judy Doan Bowman.
In addition, Vince is survived by his step-children Jan Boswell and husband, Don; Patti Johnson and husband, Kevin; Derald Kannady and wife, Margaret; and Gerald Kannady.
He is also survived by his step-grandchildren and great-grandchildren:
• Jacob Boswell and wife, Melanie
• Danielle Webster, husband Travis and children Josh, Ryder and Remi
• Kristen George, husband Jacob and children Lexi and Kasen
• Jan Kannady, husband Taylor and son Charles
• Lauren Kannady
• Cassie Johnson
• Kaitlyn Johnson and daughter Kinsley
Vince leaves behind a legacy of faith, integrity, humility, and quiet strength. He taught by example that the Christian life is not a destination but a walk—aligning more closely to God’s will with every step. His life was also a testimony to trust—trust in the Spirit to guide, comfort, and sustain. We are grateful for the many ways his life touched ours, and we rejoice in knowing that he is now at home with the Lord.
Services will be Sunday, June 8 at Highland Oaks Church of Christ, 9400 Plano Rd, Dallas, TX 75238. Visitation will begin at 2:00pm followed by a memorial at 3:00pm.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the preaching school in Nairobi, Kenya. This was a work that mattered to Vince and the family would be grateful for any donations in his memory.

Checks can be made to:
Saturn Road Church of Christ c/o IPCM Nairobi, Kenya
Mailing address: 3030 Saturn Rd, Garland TX 75041

Donations online can be made via link or QR code:

https://onrealm.org