Obituary of Douglas Dudley Bryant

Douglas Dudley Bryant, 50, of Renick, MO, passed away Friday, February 24, 2017 after a long battle with cancer. He so loved life and had so much more he wanted to do. He was born in Richardson, Texas to Paul Bryant and Betty Nelson Shortnacy. Doug lived most of his life in Rowelet, Texas and was an electrician at Baylor Dental Hospital of Dallas. Doug moved to Missouri in 2012 after meeting his future wife, Gayla (Hendren) Downing. They married July 12, 2014. Doug’s hobbies included having backyard Karaoke parties and barbecues. Doug and Gayla loved singing. In fact, that’s how their love story began, singing on a site called Singsnap. He also loved yard sales and auctions where he collected antique tools and coins. He was also an excellent carpenter – wasn’t anything he couldn’t build. He was a man of many talents, such as windsurfing and rock climbing back in Texas. He was very friendly and outgoing and could always put a smile on anyone’s face with his stories and jokes. He will be missed by anyone who knew him Doug was preceded in death by his father, Paul Bryant. Doug leaves behind his mother Betty, brother Don Bryant, several aunts and uncles in Somerset, Kentucky; his son Cullen Bryant of Columbus, GA; Gayla’s parents, Jerry and Verna Hendren of Macon, MO and other family members; his wife and sweety Gayla Bryant of Renick, MO; and his stepchildren whom he loved as his own: Brandon and Mallory Downing of Huntsville, Bradley and Ashley Downing of Huntsville, Cory and Cody Downing of Huntsville; grandchildren Alyssa, Kendra, Mali, Brooklyn, Nathan and Carson. Private services celebrating Doug’s life will be held at a later date at First Church of God, Moberly, MO, which he considered his church home.