Doug was a quiet man, a loving husband, a protective father, and a dang fun “Poppy” to the grandkids. Born on June 27, 1947, in Memphis, Tennessee, the youngest son of Roland and Dorothy Clare. Doug grew up in Olive Branch, Mississippi, moving to Texas in grade school where he met his sweetheart, Diana.
Doug loved his wife Diana and fought to stay at her side for as long as possible. They were married 57 years, and their love story is one for the books. He bought her flowers every birthday and anniversary until he could not. And even then, he made sure to always say “I love you” out loud and with a hug.
Doug, Dad, Poppy (no matter what you called him), taught us what true love is. As a man of few words, he showed love through his actions and how he spent his time. He always filled up Mom’s car with gas, started supper after working a long shift in a dirty power plant, ironed work and school clothes, fixed broken eyeglasses with epoxy, and sent dollar bills in college care packages with “Love Dad” written on them guaranteeing they would not be spent.
He grew up with a natural talent for fixing things becoming an exceptional welder in the U.S. Navy. He turned his welding skills into a career working for City Public Service Energy (CPS) for 34 years. His blue-collar work ethic fed his family and helped to put two daughters through college. His hands were never clean even after washing them. He taught his daughters to be strong, taught the grandkids to weld, gave them a love for building things, and he brought smiles to our faces as he riled up our mom, his most beloved wife, Diana.
In retirement, the quiet man had a lot of reasons to smile and laugh. “Poppy” and “Nana” become the go to fun leaders for three amazing grandchildren, Montgomery, Olivia, and Cash. Doug’s legacy lives on through his children and grandchildren. He was at every event to cheer them on no matter what day or time - shooting sports in the summertime, baseball at 11 pm on a Tuesday, football in 100-degree weather, hard bleacher seats for volleyball, and basketball.
Doug never passed up a sweet treat, especially cookies and his talent for grilling “Poppy Sausage” will be greatly missed. He will be remembered for his wicked sense of humor and his unwavering love of his family.
He is survived by his wife, Diana, daughter Tracy Cain and husband Alan, daughter Lisa Gladstone and husband Keith, grandchildren Montgomery Cain, Olivia Gladstone and Cash Gladstone, and many sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Roland Lafayette Clare and Dorothy Clare, his brother Rickey, and his beautiful daughter Michelle.
A committal service will be held on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, located at 1520 Harry Wurzbach Rd., San Antonio, TX 78209.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in memory of Doug Clare.
