Gary Doyne Stell's Obituary
Gary Doyne Stell, JD departed this life far too soon to be with his heavenly father on August 22,2021 after a courageous battle with colon cancer. His spirit and faith were strong through his very last breath. He was truly a wonderful husband, father, uncle, son-in-law, brother-in-law, father-in-law and friend.
Gary was born February 19, 1959 in Conway, Arkansas to his beloved parents, the late Mary Lillian and Doyne Leon Stell. At six weeks old, Gary s family moved to Beaumont Texas. Gary would adopt Texas as his own for the next 62 years. Gary was a 1977 graduate of Forest Park High School in Beaumont where he was involved in many activities, including three years as a member of the varsity baseball team. Gary received a BA degree in Political Science with a minor in Qualitative Analysis from The University of Texas at Austin and a law degree from Louisiana State University. After graduating from LSU, Gary moved to Dallas to begin his legal career at Miller & Stell after which he opened his own consulting practice, GDS & Associates.
It was in high school that Gary met the love of his life, Suzanne Williams. They were married in Beaumont on November 18, 1989. Gary and Suzanne settled in the Lake Highlands area of Dallas, where they raised their two sons, Taylor and Brett. They have been active members of the Lake Highlands community, proudly supporting the Wildcats since 1989. Additionally, Gary was a long-standing member of Preston Hollow Presbyterian Church.
Gary’s happiest moments came from being a devoted dad. From the time his sons were young, he enjoyed introducing them to his own favorite activities and interests such as history, watching airplanes and going to sporting events. Many of those interests naturally developed into some of Taylor and Brett’s own loves. He took more pleasure from his family’s joy and achievements than his own. Gary was not just proud, but the most supportive and involved father a son could hope to have. He was present in every sense of the word for his boys (and their many friends). When Taylor achieved his lifelong dream of playing baseball for the family’s beloved Texas Longhorns, Gary traveled to as many games as possible and tracked every win, loss, pitch, hit and run. More recently, he took great pride and interest in Taylor’s successes in his commercial real estate career. Gary was equally enormously proud of Brett for pursuing his very early love of flying and achieving the academic success in high school needed to be awarded a spot at the Air Force Academy, having already earned his private pilots license. Gary had the deepest respect for all of the armed services and enjoyed learning more about the military through Brett. Throughout Brett’s years at the Academy, subsequent pilot training and currently in his training to become an F-15 fighter pilot, Gary enjoyed nightly long-distance talks with Brett. Gary would help him study, carefully listening until he himself understood the intricate details of whatever highly specific aeronautical subject Brett was wanting to discuss. His sons’ passions became his own. Gary was also extremely proud that both of his boys were already generously giving back to their local communities, a quality he had modeled for them their entire lives. Gary was blessed to witness Taylor’s wedding to Amanda on November 21, 2020 and Brett’s wedding to Sarah on May 22, 2021. He adored both of his new daughter-in-laws.
Gary’s interest in his family did not end with his sons. He fully supported and aided Suzanne’s long career as an administrator at Shelton School and shared her love for the school, its students, faculty and staff, attending countless sporting events, fundraisers, dinners, plays, and graduations. His family was everything to him.
Gary had a love of life and a natural curiosity. Gary appreciated all genres of music and enjoyed creating his own songs for the guitar, which was a skill inherited from a long line of self-taught and talented family musicians in Arkansas. He loved good books, long bike rides, taking photographs, cooking new dishes, history, a delicious meal and taking care of the family dog Callie. He had a sense of fun and playful adventure. For example, he thought nothing of detouring on the way to Colorado last summer to see Cousin Eddie’s house from Chevy Chase’s movie Vacation. It was “on the way” so why not stop and have a look? He lived life to the fullest.
Gary loved all sports, particularly baseball and any sport the Texas Longhorns were playing. Gary and Suzanne treasured their many years of travel and the friendships made during their sons years in select baseball. Gary always had a positive, encouraging word for both his sons and their teammates from T-ball and high school football through Taylor’s collegiate years.
Gary enjoyed traveling and always took the time to learn about the local history, lore, culture and past events that shaped whatever location he was visiting. The family made many wonderful memories at Suzanne’s parents’ beach house on the Bolivar Peninsula. It was a special place to
fish, swim, roast marshmallows and gather with loved ones. His other favorite destinations included Vail and Breckenridge, Colorado and Santa Fe, New Mexico. He was at peace in the mountains whether it was snow skiing with his family or the opportunity to hike anywhere and anytime. A long-planned hiking trip to Yosemite National Park with his dear friend Dave Helffrich was one of his more recent travel milestones. Another recent highlight was a trip through Rocky Mountain National Park which combined three of his greatest loves, mountains, hiking and spending time with his adored Suzanne.
Gary was the epitome of a people person. He had an uncanny way of making personal connections with pretty much everyone with whom he came in contact. He loved meeting others and taking the time to learn their story. No matter what was going on in his life, he made a point to ask his family and friends about their own lives and how and what each of their loved ones was doing. He remembered the little things and was sincerely interested. He truly cared about people and was as genuine a person as there is. His friends became his extended family and they loved him deeply in return.
Gary is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 31 years, Suzanne, their two sons, Drew Taylor and wife Amanda and Brett Austin and wife Sarah, his sister and her husband, Susan and Patrick Kadilis, his stepmother, Wanda Stell, father-in-law, R. O. Williams Jr., brother-in-law
Robert O. (Bill) Williams III and wife Jill, and nephew, Jacob Kadilis and nieces, Maddi and Rory Williams. He is also survived by the loving Brewer and Stell families in Arkansas and the extended Williams families in Texas.
The family wishes to extend their heartfelt thanks to life-long friends, Devra and Dave Helffrich, who have been like family throughout Gary's battle against cancer helping in every way possible. Gary's caregivers at home, Christine, Irene and Caroline, and at T. Boone Pickens Faith Presbyterian Hospice have earned their special wings in heaven for their compassionate, respectful, and tender care of Gary. He loved them all! They would also like to thank their Lake Highlands friends and the Shelton School community for their never-ending support through Gary’s journey.
A memorial service will be held at 11:30 am, Saturday, October 2 at Preston Hollow Presbyterian Church followed by a reception in the church’s Jubilee Hall. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Gary’s memory may be made online or by mail to Shelton School, 17301 Preston Road, Dallas, TX 75252, to the American Cancer Society or to the local charity of your choice.
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