Clara Doughtie

Clara Walker Doughtie was born July 30, 1918 in the community of West Sandy, Texas and went to be with her Lord and Savior on Tuesday, May 20, 2014. Clara and her husband, like many, moved from their beloved childhood community of West Sandy to the Houston area where work was plentiful. It was there that they live and raised their family until Aubrey’s retirement from Shell Oil in 1972. It was then that they returned to the West Sandy community and built their home in the very place that would remind us often that it was the very spot her dad and “us kids” would grow sugar cane crops, the very place which now looks out over a beautiful lake and her childhood home across the road. There they found joy and took great pride in the plentiful garden they grew each year, family gatherings, friends over for a friendly game of “42”, ice cream socials and Sundays worshiping with those friends and family members. Whenever the opportunity presented itself, she was ready and happy to share Christ. She is preceded in death by her son-in-law, Joe Gray, parents, Jesse & Lettie Walker, husband Aubrey Clayton Doughtie, son James Clayton Doughtie, sisters, Celeta “Boots” Walker, Naomi Morris, brother Doyle Walker, and granddaughter, Amy Ellington. She is survived by her sister, Margarett Walker-White and husband Bobby of Lovelady, daughter Mary Nell Gray of West Sandy; grandchildren, Joseph Kevin Gray and wife Sherry of Huntsville, Nancy Karryl Gajan and husband Preston of Conroe, Terri Frances Putnam and husband Royal of Montgomery; great-grandchildren Joey Gray Petty, Officer 3rd Class and wife Elissa serving in the Navy in Norfolk, Virginia; Mark Gray and wife Andrea of Huntsville; Lauren McCain of Dallas; Danielle Pretzer of Corpus Christi, Texas; Emily Elliott and husband Josh of Huntsville, Justin Lewis of Huntsville; Baillie Pretzer of Conroe; Garrett Putnam of Montgomery, Texas; Chris Lewis of Huntsville; JJ Lewis of Houston; Nathan Kitchen of Conroe; Tres Gajan Petty, Officer 1st Class serving in the Navy at Kingsbay, Georgia, and Amanda Gajan of Bradenton, Florida; great-great grandchildren Payge Gray of Huntsville and Solomon Gray of Norfolk, Virginia and expected great-great grandson Sampsyn Gray, due in the fall, along with many nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews that still live in Walker County and surrounding areas. Clara was a dedicated Mother, Grandmother, Sister, Aunt and friend to many and it will be difficult to think of the West Sandy Community without thinking of the many stories told and the many capacities in which she fulfilled. Clara and her late husband, Aubrey, were dedicated members of their childhood community and played a major role in securing land in which to begin what is now Westway Baptist Church. It was her biggest joy to serve her Lord and Savior in any capacity possible as long as her health permitted. She taught Sunday School for many years along with volunteering her services to Vacation Bible School each summer. When her health began to fail and she was no longer able to attend church, she continued to be faithful in her giving through tithes and offerings, but even in poor health, she never missed a opportunity to share the gospel of Christ with others. The family would like to thank Sheryl Ellisor and her family for the care and love they provided our mother and our grandmother, during the last year of her life. They provided a home-like environment in which we knew she would be most comfortable and content. She enjoyed the many visits from Sheryl’s young grandchildren as though they were her own, bringing to her smiles and laughter as they sat and visited with her the many times they came to visit their own grandparents. As Clara attended the San Jacinto School in West Sandy, the family is requesting that in lieu of flowers, please make donations to the “Old School House” West Sandy Community Association, P.O. Box 8942, Huntsville, Texas 77342-0016. The family will receive friends Friday, May 23, 2014 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Sam Houston Memorial Funeral Home in Huntsville, Texas. Services will be held Saturday, May 24, 2014 at 3:00 PM at Sam Houston Memorial Funeral Home in Huntsville with interment to follow at Ferris Cemetery in Huntsville, Texas. Memorial condolences may be made to the family online at www.shmfh.com.

Clara Doughtie

July 30, 1918 - May 24, 2014