John M. Doyle

June 29, 1941 - September 23, 2024

June 29, 1941-
September 23, 2024

Born in Reno, Nevada to Virginia and Donald (Mickey) Doyle, John attended Southside Elementary and Northside Junior High Schools.
He grew up fishing the Truckee River, hunting ducks and pheasants around the Truckee Meadows, skiing at Sky Tavern and Mount Rose, and playing baseball- participating in the first Little League game played in Nevada.
He always said that the Reno of his youth was perhaps the best place at the best time there ever was; a claim that has yet to be disproved.
John graduated from Reno High School in 1959, participating in athletics and Boys State. He continued on to the University of Nevada, graduating in 1963.
He was president of the Sundowners and would happily remind people that the Sundowners had the highest cumulative GPA of all the fraternal organizations- in addition to having the most fun.
John married Aliceann Monaghan in August of 1963, a love story that began when they met in Pickett Park at the age of 12 years old and continued for nearly 70 years.
They moved to San Francisco in the fall of 1963 where John attended USF Law School, graduating in 1966.
After passing the bar exam, looking for adventure and with a desire to try cases in the courtroom, John and Aliceann moved to Winnemucca where John took the Deputy DA and City Attorney positions while also starting his own private practice.
Winnemucca turned out to be the perfect place for a young lawyer and a fun-loving environment to raise 4 children.
The adventure continued for 57 years, developing countless lifelong friendships and memories.
John shifted to private practice in 1974. He took on a wide range of cases- criminal, civil, family, probate; never a dull day.
He tried cases before the Nevada Supreme Court, worked as a federal administrative law judge for the McDermitt Indian Reservation, and served as legal counsel for the Humboldt District School Board for 30 years.
He practiced law with respect, honesty, and lots of preparation; he made it a point that nobody was ever going to be better prepared to go to trial than he was.
His years as a “country” lawyer saw him paid in, among other things, 2 saddles (he had no horse) and a limit of chukars, plucked and cleaned (per his invoice).
He may have gained the most satisfaction from providing counsel- whether legal, practical, or personal- to friends and community members who sat at his desk.
He was a trusted ear and voice of reason to many. “A damn good lawyer” was how John would describe other attorneys he held in high esteem; a fitting epithet for his own career.
Amongst volunteering for many local boards and committees, John was selected to serve on the UNR Foundation.
He was also proud to be a 26 year member of the Winnemucca Volunteer Fire Department  and was instrumental in getting the fire department included in the PERS retirement system.
John lived with gusto and always appreciated a good meal, a good book, good company, and most importantly good conversation.
He fly-fished and hunted throughout Nevada and North America, and other places around the globe including Russia and Uruguay, but was most content when hunting waterfowl on desert waters, a passion he learned from his father.
He, along with Aliceann, appreciated the full range of life’s experiences and enjoyed exploring the remote areas of Northern Nevada in addition to traveling around the world, and were proud to have been skiing partners from their early teens into their seventies.
John had a generous spirit and included his children and grandchildren in many of his pursuits.
He thought he was the luckiest man ever, but his family always knew they were the lucky ones. 
John passed away from an infection complicated by lymphoma. He was surrounded by the love of his family, a blessing that he enjoyed and valued throughout his life.
He was still practicing law at 83 years old; his passion for work never diminished, just as his joy for living never faded.
He would lock the office door to go fishing at Knott Creek or to hunt ducks in Paradise Valley at a moment’s notice.
He participated fully in life, and had a unique ability to discern between the serious and not-so-serious aspects of life, and to give them each his full attention.
He touched countless lives, both professionally and personally.  He will be missed by a wide range of people- as wide as the vast Nevada sky.
John was preceded in death by Aliceann, his wife of 58 years and his parents. He is survived by his sons Sean (Michele) and Brenden; daughters Katie and Adriane; as well as seven cherished grandchildren: Kayla (Bryce), Colin, Maeve, Mickey, Neko, Ryder, and Sage. 
We will celebrate John’s life at the Boys and Girls Club of Winnemucca on November 2nd at 1:00 pm.
In memory of John’s dedication to the community, you may donate to the Boys and Girls Club of Winnemucca.