Jonah Boutdara

Jonah Boutdara, age 33 passed away January 27, 2020. He was born in Modesto, CA on December 11, 1986. Jonah went to Thomas Downey High School in Modesto, CA. He was survived by parents Touy and Douangmalay, Daughter Jada, three Sisters Ketsourine and Husband Phi, Linda and Justin, Laura and Mathew, Niece Zacari, and Nephews Austin, London, and Mathew Jr. For the last two years Jonah devoted his love and affection to his girlfriend Barsina.

Jonah was a loving, caring, and outgoing man, Jonah was very family oriented, and greatly loved by his family and friends. He cherished his daughter Jada who he raised to be strong, intelligent, and compassionate towards others. He was an amazing uncle to his niece and nephews, always willing to play and joke around with them. At family gatherings, he was always the life of the party. You could always count on him to be the one in charge of the music and to get everyone to dance and sing. He continuously had an enormous smile on his face and remained laughing. Even at times his laugh was contagious. Jonah was always the one to be cheering someone up when they were down. Whenever Jonah would be out with family and friends, there was never a dull moment and when he wasn’t acting silly. He would photo-bomb anyone taking a picture and would go up to people singing and dancing. Whether it was at someone’s house or in their car, he would make sure to change the song to what he desired to.

Jonah loved food!! He was constantly watching food/mukbang videos and shared how good stuff looked or asked if someone would make it for him. He loved spicy food and had no limitation to the spice level. He was always willing to try variety types of foods for the first time. Some refer to him as skinny fatty, because no matter how much food he ate he barely gained any weight. When the weather was good, the first thing he would do is go fishing since he loved to fish and be in the outdoors. When it came to cars, he was well informed and kept up with the newest trends. Amongst many of the people and belongings Jonah loved in his life, his car (snow-white) was by far his most cherished possession.

When I held the flower, it held me back

I gently touched the beautiful glistening petal

It felt warm and soft

Like the bright blue sky

Its beauty showed me the light of its love

After it left

A tear came down

So, until spring I said goodbye

Before it left in the cold winter sky

And then it said,

“I’ll never forget how you were my friend,

my very good friend”

—poem by Barsina

“Sometimes you will never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory.” —Dr. Seuss

“Those we love don't go away, they walk beside us every day. Unseen, unheard, but always near, still loved, still missed and forever dear.”