Doyal Reneau Childress Sr., age 85 of Friendswood , passed away on March 7, 2010. He is preceded in death by his parents, George W. & Nettie Childress; son, Doyal “Buddy” Childress Jr.; brothers, Clyde Childress, L.W. Childress; sisters, Bertha Williams, Nancy Preston, Bernice Likens, and Bernell McMahon. He is survived by his wife, Hazel; daughter, Joy Sloan & her husband John, and Barbara Puckett; sister, LaRue Goldsmith; grandchildren, Sheri Ford & her husband Kevin, Tad Childress & his wife Jodi, Jennifer Hudman, Robert Hudman, Jay Childress; ten great-grandchildren; and a host of many other family & friends.
Doyal was born on October 1, 1924 in Ira, Texas. He resided in Beeville Texas for most of his life before settling in Friendswood in 2006. Doyal and Hazel were married for 63 years and had a strong and loving model relationship. The family admired them and they all aspired to having a relationship like theirs. Doyal was a wonderful provider for his family, working as a Firefighter and Emergency Management Coordinator for the City of Beeville and even drove a school bus part time in Harlingen, TX. As a man of strong faith, Doyal read and studied the bible daily and truly had a servant’s heart. He would visit nursing homes conducting services or funerals and even led a prison ministry. He loved discussing the Bible and shared the word with whoever was interested in learning about it. Doyal was an Elder and Deacon in the Combes, TX Church of Christ before moving to Beeville in 1966. He was asked after moving to fill in at the Pettus Church of Christ as a part time preacher which turned into a twenty year “part time preaching assignment”. He also was involved at his church, the Westside Church of Christ in Beeville before he and his wife became ill and moved near their daughters in the Pearland area. He baptized many of his followers including his grandchildren. Doyal’s messages of faith and the inspiration he shared throughout his life will always influence those who knew and loved him.
Visitation for Doyal will be on Saturday, March 13, 2010, at 11:00 am at Clayton Funeral Home. The Funeral Service will follow at 1:00 pm in the Chapel. David Todd will be officiating.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Doyal’s honor to: Alzheimer’s Association, P.O. Box 96011, Washington, DC 20090-6011. Donate by phone: 1.800.272.3900 or online at www.alz.org/join_the_cause_donate.asp.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you. Uncle Jiggs had accepted Jesus as Lord and now he is there with Him. Praise God!
I am sorry I cannot be there but I will continue to keep
I had the honor to work with Mr Childress at the Chase Field Fire Dept in Beeville only for a short spell before I went to work at the Naval Air Station Corpus Christi Fire Dept, Corpus Christi, Tx. I remember him as a true gentleman that loved his job. Every now and then I would run into him in Beeville and he would always take the time to chat with me for a few minutes. My deepest sympathy to all the family and from all his co-workers that had the honor to work with him at Chase Field Fire Dept, Beeville, Tx! We hope that time will ease the sorrow of your great loss. May God bless all your family!
Hazel I wrote you a letter about a month ago and of course, it came back. I did not have anyone to ask where you are. I read Mr. Childress’s obituary in the Beeville Newspaper. I have often thought of both of you and really enjoyed knowing both of you. I hope you will write to me. My sympathy to you and your family. My home address is: 732 SH
132 N, Natalia, TX 78059