Louis "Lou" V. Doss II

Louis “Lou” Verstell Doss II passed away on March 30, 2023 at age 77. Lou was born on October 1, 1945 in San Antonio, Texas. Lou is preceded in death by his father, Louis Verstell Doss; his mother, Lucille Doss; and his wife, Carolyn Byrd Doss. Lou is survived by his sons, Louis Verstell Doss III and Jason Michael Doss; nine grandchildren, and a host of great-grandchildren.

Growing up in rural Texas near Devine, Lou enjoyed ranch life and the outdoors with his parents and his Uncle Willie. Eventually, Lou would become an auto mechanic, and in 1967 he married his wife, Carol Byrd. The two started their marriage with a lot of love and only 17 cents in their pockets.

When his wife passed away on March 4, 2015, Lou and Carol had been married for 48 years. The two were inseparable soulmates and had a wonderful marriage. During the course of their relationship, they faced more than their fair share of adversity. Regardless, Lou passionately expressed his belief that he lived a long, blessed, and satisfying life. 

The two had a strong work ethic and worked almost all their lives until retirement. Lou worked at Ken Stoepel Ford in Kerrville as a manager for 17 years and enjoyed many years of financial success. Lou and Carol traveled the world together and had a dream vacation in Hawaii. The couple spent many years in a home on Medina Lake, had a boat on the Texas coast in Port Aransas, and owned several small businesses including a neighborhood bar in Kerrville. Lou was also able to realize another dream of being a licensed private investigator and was one for 13 years until the time of his passing.

Lou was a generous and charitable person always doing all he could for friends, family, and those in need. He had a special place in his heart for Saint Jude’s Childrens Research Hospital. Lou also oversaw a ministry through his business that led hundreds of people to Christ through salvation prayers and water baptisms.

Lou loved his sons very much and always made it his top priority to help his sons realize their dreams. Lou was an accomplished father; no son could have had a better father. Lou’s son, Jason, described his childhood as “magical and filled with treasured family memories.”  

After his wife’s passing of a heart attack in 2015, Lou’s son, Jason, began living with his father on a full-time basis. From that point forward, Lou never lived a single day alone and was greatly loved and supported.

Toward the end of his life, he suffered from several serious health problems including type II diabetes, heart disease, and pulmonary fibrosis. The Bible says we live 70 years and by strength 80. Lou’s unwavering faith in the Lord, his indomitable strength, his cat, “Rusty,” and his son and caregiver, Jason, gave Lou the strength to honorably fight to live, and ultimately, he was able to extend his life three years past life expectancy for those with his medical condition.

Lou and Jason spent those last years together watching movies, World War II documentaries, his favorite TV shows, and eating his favorite meals, including the fried shrimp entrée from Billie Genes. Although mobility issues and the need for oxygen limited his movement, Jason took Lou on trips to the coast and to various  locations throughout Texas that were a part of Lou’s childhood experience. They spent almost every day together reliving all of life’s wonderful memories. Every birthday, Father’s Day, and Christmas was a special event and Lou’s living room was filled with love and gifts. Even his wife’s chocolate birthday cake recipe was kept alive for his comfort and enjoyment. Since the passing of his wife, Lou was never more than a few feet away from his wife’s urn.  He paid his respects daily and regularly decorated the mantle with red roses and baby’s breath which were Carol’s favorite flowers.

Lou finally succumbed to his ailments in the very home he and his wife shared, dying only six feet from the very spot where his wife passed away eight years earlier.

Lou and his wife had accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior. Their names are forever recorded in the Lamb’s Book of Life. They are reunited and will forever be walking the streets of gold in Heaven, holding hands in absolute bliss in the awesome presence of the Lord for all eternity and waiting to one day be reunited with their sons who are also saved.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Louis "Lou" V. Doss II, please visit our floral store.