Leo Michael Doyle

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Marquette University

Leo Doyle Obituary

LEO MICHAEL DOYLE, founder of Doyle's Restaurant, one of the oldest family-owned restaurants in Houston, died at his home on March 20, 2008 following a long illness. He was born in October, 1922 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to Lawrence and Meta Enters Doyle. He was husband of 54 years to the late Marilyn Doyle; and is survived by his four children, Jon and his wife Carol, Paul, Lynn and Peter; and three grandchildren. He attended Washington High School and Marquette University in Milwaukee where he studied mechanical engineering, played football, and won state and regional track awards. He and his wife moved to Houston in 1954 to open Doyle's, which started as a small delicatessen but soon expanded. He wanted the best for his family, employees and community, and helped many people obtain further education and skills. He approached life with humor, determination and innovation and treated those he met with gratitude and respect. He supported numerous local organizations, including the Oak Forest YMCA, the Oak's Dad's Club, and the YMCA's International Services refugee resettlement program. A celebration of his life will be held at Doyle's Restaurant, 2136 West 34th Street, Saturday, April 5, 2008 from 4:00pm to 6:00pm. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Houston Humane Society, P.O. Box 450528, Houston, TX 77245-0528.

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Published by Houston Chronicle on Apr. 3, 2008.

Memories and Condolences
for Leo Doyle

13 Entries

Amy Nylen

May 2, 2008

Mr. Doyle made our family feel like celebrities when we came in to eat. What a great laugh he had! Some of our fondest family memories and tall tales involve adventures at Doyle's. My condolences, but also my thanks to all of the Doyle family.

ELAINE FRICK

April 28, 2008

LOVE AND WONDERFUL MEMORIES TO A FAMILY WHO HELPED ME BE THE PERSON I AM TODAY.IF IT WERE NOT FOR LEO TALKING ME THROUGH SOME ROUGH TIMES AND TEACHING ME HOW TO BE FINANCIALLY RESPONSIBLE WHO KNOWS WHERE I WOULD BE TODAY. OF COURSE I WAS THE BRUNT OF SOME OF HIS JOKES, WHICH ONLY MADE MY LIFE FULLER. I CAN ONLY SMILE WHEN I THINK OF ALL THE YEARS WE WERE EMPLOYEE AND EMPLOYER AND ALWAYS FRIENDS
MAY PEACE AND LAUGHTER FILL YOUR LIVES AS HE DID MINE.SINCERELY, ELAINE

Glenda Hubbard

April 7, 2008

My sincerest sympathy to your family. I met Mr. Doyle during one of his visits to North Carolina and remember him fondly.

Martha Marking

April 7, 2008

My thoughts and prayers to all of you during this time. I was fortunate enough to have met Mr. Doyle on occasions when he visited Lynn in Boone. He was always charming and the conversation was always scintillating.

Ginny Rich

April 4, 2008

Leo Michael Doyle was a generous man as the obituary states. I have always enjoyed the employees as they are always pleasant, which reflects the pride he had in his business. There is no doubt that many family members wore many hats in this family restaurant and maintained the same standards of service as Mr. Leo Doyle. This only proves that he raised his family with a love of family and community, as well as a good work ethic. My condolences to each of Mr. Doyles' family members and the many friends and associates he has made in his lifetime. God Bless!

Tricia (Burger) Jones

April 4, 2008

Leo Doyle and his restaurant will always be a wonderful part of my childhood. We hardly went a week without spagetti as we were growing up and later two of our family worked for Mr. Doyle. My prayers for your family, we have lost a good man.

Pat Flaherty O'Hare

April 4, 2008

My deepest sympathy to your family at the loss of your dad. Your dad, mom and aunt were all a wonderful part of my memories growing up in Oak Forest. Your dads great smile and the banter between he and his sister was always a delight.

June Flaherty

April 3, 2008

Mr. Doyle was a legend in Oak Forest. He always had a smile for you and words of encouragement. Sometimes you got the over the glasses look too. My parents, Vic and June Flaherty would go the Doyle's as far back as '54. We all would enjoy eating there and sometimes getting good cold cuts and bread to go. May God help your whole family through this most difficult time. June Flaherty

John Carnahan

April 3, 2008

I remember when Doyle's first opened around the corner from the larger restaurant that many only know. If it wasn't for Doyle's I probably would never have learned to enjoy pizzas and poor boys.
Thanks for the memories, yum!

Yoka & Henny van Dijk

April 3, 2008

Our deepest sympathy with the loss of your Dad, father in-law and granddad.When we met Leo and Marilyn in 1974 we didn't know what a source of riches we discovered - not only as the owners of Doyle's, but a lot more as the caring, concerned people they were for their personnel. We will never forget the yearly picnics or the Christmas parties, the opportunities they gave to young kids, the encouragments in their careers and of course the excellent food they served. Later when we were not part of the Doyle's crew, but just customers they would always recognize us, sit down for a spell and catch up on times past. We made 't a yearly event to watch ABC and see if they would win again one of the blue ribbon awards and they never disappointed, because the food was excellent, their kitchen spotless, because that was how Leo worked and educated his crew. Going to Doyle's meant seeing good old friends. We will remember Leo as a wonderful man who always was ready to help and we will remember the Doyle's as a wonderful couple, concerned about their fellow man. Rest in Peace Leo, we will miss you!

Carolyn Morgan-Moore

April 3, 2008

We ask God to Bless the family of Leo Doyle. He was a good man with a good sense of humor and loved his family and his community. I have been eating at his restaurant since it was a small take-out only restaurant operated totally by the family. He will be missed but not forgotten.

Fred Garces

April 3, 2008

I,m sorry to hear about your loss.Our prayers are with you and you family.

Judith (Burger) Hackney

April 3, 2008

A truly good and generous man. My sympathy to the family.

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