Douglas Maurice Gilbert, 79, passed from this life on Saturday, October 28, 2023 in Houston, TX. He was born to the late Elmer and Gladys Gilbert on February 19, 1944 in Bellville, TX.

Doug attended Katy Schools from 1st through 12th grade, graduating in 1962. High School held many life-long memories, especially football. He was a freshman that saw playing time during the first Katy High State Championship game in 1959. His team is remembered in the Katy ISD Athletic Hall of Honor at the Legacy Stadium in Katy, Texas. He loved driving tractors for Katy Rice Farmers, as well as the trucks that delivered rice to the Katy rice dryers.

In 1968, Doug graduated from Sam Houston University with a B.A. in Industrial Education, marrying Helen Brinegar, his High School sweetheart in 1964.  He worked for Humble Oil & Refining Company in their Marketing Dept., while working on an M.Ed. in Guidance & Counseling, received in 1972.

Christopher, his only child, was born in Dallas, Texas in 1971, where Doug had moved the family after he went to work for Houghton Mifflin Publishing Company as their Southwest Regional Test Coordinator. He went to work for Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, which later became Psychological Corporation, and helped standardize the Stanford Binet IQ test in the 1970's. He became District Sales Manager, selling group intelligence and achievement tests to private and public schools, colleges, and universities.

In the 1980's Doug became an oilfield consultant. During the early 1990's he taught students with emotional, mental, and physical disabilities in Katy ISD.

After Chris graduated from college with a B.BA in Finance, he persuaded Doug to start a Paint Company in 1996. By 1998 they added a partner and became Destin Drywall & Paint, Inc. The company does commercial interior buildouts for Walmart, Kohls, Home Depot, Lowes, court houses, strip centers, casinos, hospitals, etc., nationwide. Doug retired in 1998, leaving his company shares to Chris.

Doug's first love, before Helen, was weekend farming at his family's acreage in Bellville, Texas. His 2nd was taking his granddaughter Carolyn to enjoy horseback riding, since 2013, eventually gifting her with a Quarter horse that she named Spirit.  Doug loved attending grandson's baseball and soccer games and Carolyn's basketball games. He was a Vestry Member and Stephen Minister for 10 years, as well as a Lay Eucharistic Minister, at St. Dunstan's.  He served on St. Dunstan's construction team, who were responsible for the renovation of the Nave, Parish Hall, and Bentley Bldg.

Doug and Helen enjoyed international travel, also meeting Doug's relatives in Norway and searching for Helen's in Cephalonia, Greece. They were able to host a family reunion for the Norwegians near the family farm in Bellville and visit the old family cemetery in 2019.

Those left to cherish his memories are his loving wife, Helen Gilbert; son, Chris Gilbert and wife Sherra; granddaughter, Carolyn Gilbert; grandson, Brandon Gilbert; brother, Richard Gilbert; sister and spouse, Barbara and Larry Koy, sister-in-law Barbara Gilbert; as well as several nieces and nephews and their children.

He is preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Harold Gene Gilbert.

A memorial service will be held Friday, November 17, 2023 at St. Dunstan's Episcopal Church at 1:00 pm. The Church is located at 14301 Stuebner Airline Rd., Houston, Tx 77069

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Dunstan's, Memo line-building fund, Doug's memory.

Arrangements are entrusted to Klein Funeral Home-Champions.