Curtis Lee Doyle Sr

Curtis Lee Doyle, Sr. was born August 4, 1937 in Kendleton, Texas to Ruthie Marie McClain and Clovis Lee Doyle. To this union Mack Henry, Curtis Lee and Rosie Lee Doyle were born. Curtis was a resident of Kendleton until his mother and father moved to Houston for work. Curtis spent the next several years attending E.O. Smith and Wheatley High School. He was a ladies man until he met and married the love of his life, Earnestine Madison, when he was eighteen years old. They were married for fifty years.

During the summer months, when school was out, Curtis would go to the country to visit his grandfather. He loved the country and was a country boy at heart. He rode horses, took care of farm animals and fished and hunted on warm summer days and nights. His grandfather paid him a salary for picking cotton and pulling corn to pay for school clothes.

Curtis wanted to be the best at everything. He spent his early years working for the Louelle Bowling Alley as a pen boy. He worked as a cook and also as a courier, delivering jewelry and diamonds for Gordon’s Jewelry. He worked hard to become a certified crane operator so that he would have a guaranteed job daily. He retired from the Houston Ship Channel after twenty-eight years of working for Hapaq Lloyd.

Curtis had the heart of a rebel. In his younger years, he would sit on the front seat of the neighborhood bus on the way home from the bowling alley until the driver made him go to the back of the bus. He was also an activist. Everyone shopped at Weingarten’s on Jensen. As a young man, Curtis sat at the lunch counter there, where he was refused service. Curtis felt that if he spent his money to buy a hamburger, then he should be able to sit down and eat it. He was the kind of man that talked the talk and walked the walk. As you can see, he was against the rules and rebelled against them.

Cooking was Curtis’ favorite pastime. Sometimes he would get up at night and cook a full course meal before the sun came up. Many of his friends have enjoyed his culinary skills. He learned how to cook from his mother and father. His father was a chef at the Elks Club, the most exclusive club in Houston at the time. One day Curtis and his buddy were running short of money. They decided to go pick up some pocket change from his daddy. Imagine the looks on everyone’s faces when two black boys ran straight through the front door and stopped midair. It was a sight to see!

Curtis was also a spiffy dresser. He loved his western wear. Often, he would step out on the town in his Stetson hat and alligator or ostrich boots. He also wore Dobb hats and jewelry with pride on his way to church, which he hated to miss. Curtis became an avid church member in the autumn of his life, under the pastorship of the Reverend Samuel Smith. Not only was Rev. Smith his pastor, but he was also a very good friend.

Curtis entered into rest on Tuesday, December 8, 2020. He was preceded in death by Ruthie Marie Doyle (mother), Clovis Lee Doyle (father), Mack Henry Doyle (brother) and Earnestine Doyle (wife). Curtis leaves to cherish his memories: a sister, Rosie Lee Denson (Jethan), a son, Roy Callup (Retta), Crystal Shannon and a host of nieces, nephews, grandchildren and friends. He also leaves extended family members to mourn his passing: Diverna Buggs, Kayla Smith, Selena Craft, Vera Calweld, Carla Domino and Wilma Kirk.

(Self-Authored by Curtis L. Doyle, Sr.)