William Daniel Douglass

William Daniel Douglass, 79, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by family on Thursday, March 28, 2024. He was the husband of Susan Reid Cumberland Douglass for 57 years, father of William (Billy) Douglass, Jr. and wife Kelley, Daniel (Danny) Douglass and wife Denise, Colleen Douglass Dinsdale and husband Stephen, Jeffrey Douglass and wife Beth, Kevin Douglass and wife Meg, Greg Douglass and wife Genevieve, brother of the late James Stuart Douglass, Justin Denechaud Douglass Jr. and wife Marilyn, and Gerald Aynaud Douglass and wife Jeannine, son of the late Justin Denechaud Douglass and Marian Daniel Douglass and grandson of the late George Douglass and Emma Denechaud Douglass and the late Harry Holland Daniel and Mary Hartmann Daniel. He is survived by eighteen grandchildren, Will, Caroline, Abby, Stuart, Emily, Maggie, Kate, Daniel, Megan, Parker, Jack, Blake, Molly, Evelyn, Avery, John Reid, Arden, Amelie, great grandchild Isabella (arriving July 2024), a host of nieces and nephews, and preceded in death by his granddaughter Mary Francis.

Born in New Orleans, Mr. Douglass (known as Billy to family and friends and Paw Paw to his grandchildren) graduated from St. Rita School, De La Salle High School, and Loyola University of the South where he was a member of The Beggars fraternity. He enjoyed a life full of wonderful relationships and service to others.

In addition to loving his roles as husband, father and friend, Billy cherished his Catholic faith and serving the Catholic community. He lived out his faith through his service as eucharistic minister for over 12 years and chairman of the finance committee at St. Angela of Merici parish. And for this faithful service, in 1994 Billy received the Order of St. Louis IX Medallion, for his outstanding service and commitment to St. Angela parish. Billy regularly participated in the St. Angela men’s club activities, attended weekly mass, served as a perpetual adorer at St. Clement of Rome parish for 20 years and faithfully lived out his vocation as a devoted husband and Catholic parent to his children. He participated in 15 retreats at Manresa retreat center in Covington, LA and 3 pilgrimages to Medjugorje, including one time with 3 of his children.

Mr. Douglass served the United States in the Army as a reservist. After beginning his career as an accountant at Audubon Park in 1966, Mr. Douglass joined local public accounting firm Murphy, Whalen, and Broussard in 1971, became a certified public accountant in 1976, and spent 47 years serving hundreds of clients, many of whom became good friends of Billy’s who respected the quality of his work year after year.

In his spare time, Billy enjoyed attending his children’s and grandchildren’s games and activities, socializing and playing tennis at Lakeside Country Club, taking trips with family to Santa Rosa Island in Florida and the Great Smokey Mountains in Tennessee, and cherished time with his lifelong Group of friends. Fried onion rings and oyster po-boys, frozen schooners of cold beer, watching a NASCAR race, playing a round of golf or gin rummy, and watching a spectacular lightning show created by a storm over the Gulf of Mexico from a beach condo were some of the simple pleasures that always brought a smile to Billy’s kind face.

Family and friends are invited to attend a Memorial Mass at St. Angela Merici Catholic Church at 901 Beverly Garden Dr, Metairie, LA 70002, Friday, April 5, at Noon. Visitation will begin at 10:30 a.m. until service time. Interment will be private at Metairie Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, Masses or donations are preferred to St. Angela Merici Catholic Church or donations to the Davis Phinney Foundation for Parkinson’s at www.davisphinneyfoundation.org in memory of William Daniel Douglass. Please visit and sign the guestbook, at www.dignitymemorial.com.