Douglas "Doug" Joe Smith

Mr. Douglas Joe "Doug" Smith, age 64, passed away on July 5, 2025, in Liverpool, Texas. Born on May 15, 1961, in Lynwood, California, Doug led a life marked by dedication to his country, his career, and most importantly, his family.

Doug proudly served in the United States Navy for four years as a Naval Search and Rescue (SAR) Aircrewman stationed in Patuxent River, Maryland. His time in the military laid the foundation for a lifelong commitment to excellence and service.

Following his military service, Doug embarked on a distinguished 35-year career in the aviation and space industries. He began at Continental Express-a commuter airline where he met his beloved wife Lisa-and went on to work in the space industry as a configuration management associate at Kennedy Space Center and then as a quality engineer and quality assurance representative in Houston. He also worked with several corporate aviation companies and during that time he held roles as a flight planner and flight operations specialist. His work reflected both technical expertise and an unwavering attention to detail.

Doug was a devoted husband to Lisa and a proud father to his daughters, Jennifer Lynn and Ashley Marie. He found great joy in coaching Ashley's soccer team during her younger years and continued to be her biggest fan when she played at the high school level. His love for family extended beyond immediate ties; he shared close bonds with his sister Donna and brother Mike as well as mother-in-law Joan, sisters-in-law Gail (Mark), Melanie (Frank) and brothers-in-law Mark (Kim) and nieces Shelly, Jane and Jessie and nephews Ryan, Jake, Mark and Donny.

In his leisure time, Doug enjoyed snow skiing during his younger days and later developed a passion for traveling. He cherished time spent outdoors on his property where he could often be found barbecuing-one of his favorite pastimes. A true enthusiast of war films, Doug also had a fondness for visiting casinos in Louisiana, humorously referring to it as "leaving his money behind."

Doug was preceded in death by his parents, Roy and Alma Smith as well as father-in-law, Harry Schroeder.

A burial will take place at Houston National Cemetery on Monday, July 28th at 10:30am.

May Doug's memory bring comfort to those who knew him and serve as a lasting tribute to a life well lived.