Clifton "Cliff" Joseph Doucet died peacefully of natural causes in his home in Conroe, Texas, April 29, 2004, at the age of 90. Born August 24, 1913, in Fry, LA, he survived by almost two years his beloved wife of 66 years, Evelyn Doucet (Evans). Preceded in death by parents Francis Doucet and Izea Mae Thibodeaux of Eunice, LA; brother, James C. Thibodeaux of Hewitt, Texas; sister, Willa Belle Perrodin, of Branch LA. He is survived by sons, Calvin Doucet of San Francisco, Timothy Doucet, M.D.; daughter-in-law, Marit Doucet; and college-student grandsons, Kjell and Lars Doucet, all of Conroe, Texas; brother, Robert Thibodeaux of Niles, MI; and sister, Beatrice Martin of Baton Rouge, LA. Driven from his family's farm by the economic necessities of the Great Depression and an innate wanderlust, he traveled the country working in oil fields, rodeos, trucking companies, and construction sites until his marriage, July 11, 1936. During World War II, he worked in critical-industry construction as a riveter, welder, boilermaker and ironworker prior to joining M. W. Kellogg Company, where he worked for over 35 years as a supervisor constructing oil refineries and chemical plants across North America and internationally. He maintained his membership in the boilermaker union until retirement. In the Texas City Disaster of 1947, he was in the first wave of rescue volunteers. An affable, easy to befriend, highly-skilled, fair and hard working professional, he was always willing to give a guy down in his luck a chance, and was a sternly patient mentor to unskilled workers and young engineers new to the trade. He enjoyed dominos, card games, reading, and the Country and Western music of his youth. As a younger man he was a golfer, hunter, fisher, cartoon doodler, and home-gardener. He was a member of the Klein United Methodist Church, was a 32nd degree Mason of the Northwest Lodge #1434 A. F. & A.M. in Spring, and previously of the Lorena Lodge #594, Scottish Rite, in Waco, Texas. Funeral Service will be held Friday, May 7th, 11 am, at Earthman Resthaven Chapel with Interment to follow at Earthman Cemetery. Reverend Bob Smith will officiate.
Houston Chronicle, Published, Monday, May 3, 2004