Douglas Carl Stanley

Let it be known that Douglas Carl Stanley at age sixty-eight, was received by Jesus September 25, 2023. After a long period of battling strokes and a diagnosis of cancer, in the company of his wife and four children in his home at Mart, Texas, he took his last breath here on earth.

A memorial service will be held October 5, 2023, 11AM at Church of the Open Door located at 900 TX-340 Loop, Waco, TX 76705. The service will be live streamed and may be viewed on the following links:
http://facebook.com/opendoorwaco/ and http://YouTube.com/OpenDoorWaco. More information may be obtained by calling 254-799-2656.

Douglas was born in Fort Worth, Texas on March 15, 1955, to parents R.C. and Linnie Jean Stanley. Growing up in the Fort Worth, Tahoka, Cleburne and Burleson areas afforded him many opportunities as a child to enjoy such activities as playing baseball, attending rodeos and movie theatres, going to public parks and family trips to the Texas coastline. His five sisters, Fannie Ruth, Egeanie Rose, Patricia Lynn, Jacqueline Kay and Tanya Sheree, fondly called “the tag-alongs”, were his constant companions on many childhood adventures which included hours of outside play, tree forts, homemade go-carts, flying kites, and imaginary capers only achievable by endless energy and a child’s mind. Douglas also enjoyed high school track, volunteering and assisting in Special Olympics, and ski trips in Colorado as he grew older.

Gleaning mechanical knowledge from his dad and attending various classes on the subject paved the way for a lifetime career in diesel and auto mechanics which provided employment through notable companies such as Saunders Trucking, Riders Trucking Inc., Lisa Motor Lines, Arnold Transportation Services and The Army Airforce Exchange Services where he retired in 2016.

At the age of thirty-one he renewed his faith in Jesus and started attending a small church in Everman, Texas where he met his wife of thirty-five years, Rebekah Faith Gilmore. On June 4, 1988, they were married in Azle, Texas and in subsequent years they were blessed with four children, Susan Mae, Elisabeth Grace, Peter Franklin, and Jubilee Mercy.

In his later years Douglas enjoyed singing songs he made up, calculating numerical patterns, watching movies that were clean and funny, reading adventure books, predicting weather by looking at the clouds and being around his family.

He was a good man loved by his parents, valued by his siblings, esteemed by relatives and friends, respected for his work ethic by co-workers, trusted in the church community and cherished by his wife and children.

Douglas is survived by his spouse, Rebekah Faith Stanley; children, Susan Mae Stanley, Elisabeth Grace Stanley, Peter Franklin Stanley, and Jubilee Mercy Stanley; mother, Linnie Jean Stanley; sisters, Fannie Ruth Stanley-Dupree, Egeanie Rose Smith, Patricia Lynn Johnson; father and mother-in-law, George and Mae Gilmore; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Douglas and Shelly Gilmore; sister-in law, Hope Hutsell, and numerous other relatives and friends.

Douglas is predeceased by his father, Rufus Carl Stanley; sisters, Jacqueline Kay Stanley and Tanya Sheree Stanley; niece, Jenia Karl Stanley; and brother-in-law, Roscoe Dwayne Hutsell.

Douglas spoke to his wife two weeks before he passed saying these words.

“When I die, I won’t be dead, I’ll be with Jesus.”

Place of Service: Church of the Open Door , 900 N. Loop 340; Waco, TX 76705