Joe Douglas Doss

Joe Douglas Doss was born on January 23, 1961, in Houston, Mississippi, and left this earth due to natural causes in his home on January 30, 2025. He was the third of four children, with two older sisters, Sandra and Betty Lynn, who were twelve and nine years his senior. When his younger brother Scott was born two years later, his adventure really began. The boys grew up running free and creating their own fun, ruling the hill they grew up on in Sonora. Doug learned to be a fierce protector in that childhood of exploring and risk-taking. That trait stayed with him his entire life. When the boys were eight and ten years old, their mother, Jeanette Doss, got very sick and was off and on nearly bedridden for the next ten years. Their "Daddy," Joe Lee Doss, worked two jobs to keep the family afloat. It was during this time that Doug took over as Scott's main caregiver, who was legally blind as a child, keeping him safe the best he knew how. No one realized his little brother couldn't even make out most people's faces, but Doug instinctively knew. He became Scott's eyes, protecting him countless times from childhood dangers, such as oncoming cars and water moccasins. He saved Scott's life on several occasions. Doug was both physically strong and extremely clever. He could pop a wheelie on his bike and ride that all the way down their hill, across the highway, and into the neighbor's driveway. He loved riding horses and motorcycles, hunting, fishing, and spending time outdoors. He was very mechanically minded, even in his youth. As a pre-teen, he rebuilt a motorcycle engine by himself, and as a freshman in high school, he completely overhauled his father's truck engine. His future was limitless. As the boys grew, Doug started going his own way. Without the guidance he needed at that critical time, he started making choices that changed the trajectory of his entire life. He went to school and became an electrician. He worked on a pipeline for years and then at Babcock & Wilcox in West Point. In his early 30s, however, he had a terrible car accident that hospitalized him for months. After numerous complications and finally being pronounced brain dead, Doug miraculously sat up, and with the help of his family, began to claw his way back to health. Sadly, the irreversible brain trauma from the accident caused him to have short-term memory issues for the rest of his life. He returned home to the little house on the hill, where his devoted parents took care of him, and he never left their loving care. Despite the accident resulting in incredible loss, unexpected beauty grew from the tragedy in Doug's life. Shortly after the accident, his daughter Alyssa was born. Although unable to be a parent for her, she was the light in his life, and he loved her dearly. Over the years, as their bodies and minds began to slow, Doug saw his parent's needs, and the role of caregiving began to shift incrementally. This grew with each subsequent year, and in the end, he was there for them every bit as much as they were for him. He played a crucial role in their care. We will dearly miss this father, brother, uncle, and friend. We are so grateful for the years we had with this big-hearted man who was the instigator of such fun and mischief with the kids. He passed away three weeks before his first grandchild was born. We will mourn his loss forever. A Graveside service will be held Tuesday, February 4, 2025, at 1:00 PM at Bethel Cemetery. Houston Funeral Home is honored to serve the Doss Family. Doug is survived by his daughter Alyssa Layne Wright, his soon-to-be-born granddaughter Lainey Rae Crawford, siblings Sandra Doss Bullock (Eddie), Betty Lynn Doss Campbell (Eddie), Scott Harrington Doss (Cheryl) and numerous nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents Joe Lee and Jeanette Doss, his sister-in-law Sandy Bailey Doss and his niece Amanda Doss Harmon. Online condolences may be left on the Tribute Wall at www.houstonfuneralhomems.com To plant Memorial Trees in memory of Joe Douglas Doss, please click here to visit our Sympathy Store.