John Douglas Auten

John Douglas “Dog” Auten, 62, Gastonia, NC
May 16, 1964 – September 24, 2026

John Douglas “Dog” Auten, born May 16, 1964, in Gaston County, North Carolina, was a talented carpenter and craftsman who spent much of his life building things with his own two hands.

Known to most as Doug, and to many simply as “Dog,” he had a remarkable ability to build or fix just about anything. He worked as a skilled carpenter throughout his life, helping build countless homes across North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. There was very little Doug could not build. His talent, determination, and craftsmanship could be seen in the work he left behind, and the homes he helped create will stand for years as a lasting testament to his skill.

When he wasn’t working with his hands, Doug enjoyed deer hunting and any opportunity he had to spend time in a tree stand. It was a chance to get outdoors, enjoy the quiet, and do something he genuinely loved.

Doug’s life was not always an easy one. Through its many ups and downs, however, one person remained a constant presence by his side: his longtime companion and love, Anita C. Hall, affectionately known as “Doodle.” Doodle stood beside Doug through the good times and the difficult ones. She helped raise his children, stayed when life was hard, and loved him fiercely without giving up. Doug loved her with that same fierceness in return. Their life together may not have always been simple, but the love they shared endured through every chapter.

Doug is survived by his daughter, Sarah Lester and her husband, David; his sons, Joshua Shane Auten and his wife, Casey, and John David Auten; his four stepsons, Derek Clark, Nathan Hall, Tyler Hall and his wife, Brittany, and Joseph Hall and his wife, Miranda; his grandchildren, Abigail Auten, Garrison Gillespie, and Paisley Lester; his brother, Larry Auten and his wife, Joyce; his sisters, Annette Grimsley and her husband, Gene, Suzette Harper and her husband, Brian, and Suzanne Campbell and her husband, Billy; his stepmother, Janice Auten; and his longtime companion and love, Anita C. Hall “Doodle.”

He was preceded in death by his mother, Garnell Morris Auten; his father, David Gene Auten; his sister, Laura Ann Auten; and his brother, Leonard Auten.

Doug’s life had many chapters, marked by hardship, hard work, craftsmanship, love, and the people who remained beside him through it all. He leaves behind more than memories. There are homes standing today because of his hands, a family whose lives carry pieces of his story, and a woman who loved him through every version of the man he was.

To those who knew him best, he will always be Dog.

A service celebrating John's life will be held 2:00 pm Sunday, September 27, 2026 at Frontline Worship Center in Stanley, NC