Douglas Watson
The winds have welcomed you with softness. The sun has blessed you with his warm hands. You have flown so high and so well that God has joined you in laughter and set you down into the loving arms of Mother Earth.- Balloonist Prayer
Obituary
Douglas Lindy “Doug” Watson, 69, passed away on October 14, 2025, in Schertz, Texas. Born on November 6, 1955, in Lafayette, Louisiana, Doug lived a life marked by curiosity, compassion, and an unwavering entrepreneurial spirit.
Doug graduated from the University of Southwest Louisiana in Lafayette with a degree in Geology. He began his professional journey in the petroleum industry but soon adapted to changing times and transitioned into environmental work. In 1991, he founded Coastal Environmental Services, embracing his preference for independence and innovation. A decade later, in 2001, he followed another dream and launched Air Texas Balloon Adventures—a hot air balloon ride business that combined his love of flight with his desire to bring joy and awe to others.
Flying had always been close to Doug’s heart. He earned his pilot’s license at just 24 years old. While he enjoyed traditional aviation, it was hot air balloons that truly captured his imagination. The challenge and beauty of ballooning became both a business and a passion for over 20 years.
After retiring from flying, Doug found a new enthusiasm in pickleball. He and his wife, Kathryn, played the sport wherever they traveled and were active members of the YMCA community in the Schertz/San Antonio area. Before settling there, they had helped to build a vibrant pickleball community in El Paso as well.
Doug’s life was deeply rooted in kindness and connection. He believed that goodness should be shown through action rather than words—a philosophy he lived by every day. Whether helping someone in need or simply taking the time to truly listen, Doug made meaningful connections with those around him.
His compassion extended to animals as well. Doug believed every creature deserved dignity and care. Over the years, he and Kathryn rescued a variety of animals—including a cat, a dog, and even a lizard—and gave many small creatures who had met untimely ends along the roadside a respectful resting place.
Doug is survived by his beloved wife Kathryn; their son Matthew; daughter-in-law Karen; and two cherished granddaughters, Sasha and Zoey. He also leaves behind his brother Mike Watson and sister-in-law Louise Watson; their children Bonnie and Kellen; his aunt and uncle Sonny and Quinta Burrow; cousins Marie (and her husband David), Patricia (and her husband Amos), Jan, and their families.
Kathryn’s family was also an important part of Doug’s life: brothers Paul Thurber and wife Laura, and Fred Thurber and wife Kay; sisters Ida Baggett and Clo Naomi; nieces Kimm Thurber and husband James and Gwen Allen and husband Andy; nephews Jack Baggett and wife Jill, Dexter Thurber and wife Danielle, Cody Thurber, Alexandr Thurber, Jeremy Allen, and Alex Allen and their families.
Doug was preceded in death by his mother, Patricia Jo Watson; father Wyatt Donald Watson; aunt Edith Claiborne; and cousin John Claiborne.
Doug was diagnosed with Esophageal Cancer on May 1st, 2025. His battle was short, but he fought hard.
On October 13th—just one day before his passing—Doug and Kathryn celebrated 46 years of marriage. Their bond was one of deep love, shared adventures, quiet understanding, and mutual respect.
Doug’s memory will live on through the countless lives he touched—with warmth, generosity, humor, and an open heart. May his legacy continue to inspire kindness in all who knew him. A Celebration of Life will be held on November 7, 2025. Please see the details below.
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A true forever friend I look forward to seeing at The Great Reunion!🙏
Ruffino
Will always fondly remember the play, the competition, the camaraderie, and the feeling of family they both fostered.
Without their efforts, I doubt that ELP Pickleball would be as large and family friendly as it is today.
Rest in Peace, Doug
I’m so sorry I won’t be able to attend his celebration service. We will be out of town. So sorry to miss.
In our brief first-time meeting, I felt a sense of family with them. Doug was so funny, sharing many stories about his life, passions, and experiences, and it was clear he loved reminiscing about his flying balloons, travels, and his family.
Kathryn was so very kind, patient, loving, and naturally sat listening, only filling in the gaps in Doug's stories as if they both spoke and lived as one. It was absolutely endearing and natural. I had no idea that they were fighting for Doug's life as one.
Dogs have the sense to know things, feel things, and respond to people whom they meet. I knew immediately that they were exactly the people to take care of my dogs and home while away.
Doug had a great sense of humor, and I felt so relaxed joking along with him. He was serious when I showed him the laundry room and asked me if I had an ironing board and an iron. I made it a point not only to have an ironing board and iron, but to buy a brand-new, top-of-the-line cover, just for Doug.
When I first met Doug and Kathryn, I felt so assured, comfortable, and relieved, as if they were family. Doug did not mince words; he said what he needed to say and ask. Doug told me to shorten all the directions and paperwork as to what I needed them to know. I laughed and immediately told him, Yes, of course.
After they left, as kind of a joke, I wrote and taped Post-it notes to simplify things all over the house. I left a note saying, "Snoop, look, figure it all out, good luck." A joke back to Doug, whom I realized was a man of detail, but wanted to actually say to me, Keep it simple, woman! I knew they came into my life for a reason, and it was not to watch the dogs and house.
Doug had a way of communicating that was so familiar to me, as if I were listening to my own father, who had a similar way of telling stories and getting to the point. Dad suffered and died from ALS after a few months of diagnosis and survival. He told me many times when we spoke about living and dying, "Kid, we all gotta die someday." I believe Doug would have said the same thing.
When I learned that Doug had passed after his courageous fight here in Phoenix to save his life, I felt such sorrow and sympathy for Kathryn and the family. Doug was helping others while getting treatment. He cared for animals and people he had never met before, while fighting for his life.
Instead of sitting at home, waiting for answers, hope, and a miracle, he was in my home with Kathryn, dealing with cancer treatment, excessive heat, monsoon weather, cacti falling over in the yard, the pool filter, and two dogs. Kathryn's last words to me were I've got to get Doug home, asking to leave hours early, back to Texas, as if commitment even mattered. Duty over self, that is Doug and his beautiful wife.
I could not be luckier to have met Doug and Kathryn, had them in my home, and how they touched my life and my pets. Doug is a true example that no matter what happens, we keep living up to the final second when we are called home by God, appreciating every day, experience, person, and memory, no matter what.
My heart and prayers are with Kathryn and the family. I truly believe Doug left this physical world for heaven in his beloved hot-air balloon. This time, he did not have to fly, wondering where he would land. He is free and watching over his family, until one day when they, too, will join him in his hot-air balloon.
Be at peace, and thank you, Doug and Kathryn. My life has been touched forever.
From then on I was hooked. Doug hired me to crew every weekend we had good weather. Of course like most crew we weren't in it for the money. But if Doug was paid to fly, he paid his crew. For 24 years Doug was a teacher, a mentor, but most of all, a friend.
I learned a lot from Doug: piloting skills that translated to heightened sense of awareness, how to diffuse tense situations with angry landowners that made me a more effective attorney and negotiator, and how to treat numerous self-injuries that will hopefully go a long way in my next career.
I don't know where life would have taken me had it not been for those 5 a.m. wake up calls. Going through photos it hit me that I had very few WITH Doug because I spent most of my time with Kathryn chasing in the suburban! (add taught me to drive 4x4 and back up a trailer to the list). But what an unpredictable adventure it always was.
I miss those days and wish I had taken a deep breath and enjoyed the hard work and time I had with Doug a little bit more. We don't appreciate those things so much when we're younger. He was only a few years older than I am now and its funny how I let some of the same words of wisdom slip with my younger colleagues without realizing at that age its probably similarly in one ear out the other.
To Kathryn, Matthew and your families: My thoughts and my heart are with you. I can't imagine the loss you must feel. And while cliche, I hope that you're grateful for the time you had with such an incredibly loving and supportive husband and father.
Doug, I hope you're sippin champagne with Pilâtre while you wait on the rest of us.
"May the winds welcome you with softness. May the sun bless you with its warm hands. May you fly so high and so well that God joins you in laughter, and sets you gently back into the loving arms of Mother Earth"
Oh the conversations we had and the laughter! I feel so blessed that Doug and Kathryn stopped and stayed at my house on the way back to Schertz from Arizona! Kathryn I’ll cherish that memory forever! And all the pickleball and our adventures when I stopped in Schertz!❤️
This is such a loss for Kathryn and everyone that loved Doug! Our heartfelt condolences go out to everyone!
Service
3501 Morning Dr.
Schertz, Texas 78108
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