Vivian Jeanette Douglas

Ms. Viv, wife, mother, grandmother, friend, woman of Christ, icon, legend….

The truth is, obituaries aren’t long enough to describe her life and how much she meant to everyone.

Born in Washington, at an early age her family made the move to Waco, Texas. She would gladly tell you the story about how on the way, their car broke down, and they had to leave her favorite baby carriage behind. After years in Waco dancing at country western dance halls and raising two boys, Jerry and Don, she found what she would call her home in Converse, Texas. From that point forward, the only remnants of Washington was her love for the Redskins, although there could be a debate on her having a greater love for the Spurs.

In Converse, with her husband, Leroy and her son Don, she would add business owner to her moniker. Converse painting was born. She could tell you everything about any of the workers she’s ever had and all about the business. Including, but not limited to, how the Bill Clinton years were the best years for her business and how working until you’re 91 is what really keeps you going.

When she wasn’t working, Vivian enjoyed her many Sundays spent at the Converse First Baptist Church where she was treasurer for decades. The only thing to cause her to miss a Sunday was a weekend of fishing. She loved to fish and loved any time spent with her boys, of course mainly referring to her beloved dachshunds Nick and Isaac, who always got to go everywhere she went. Viv also loved her girls, Apple and Cinnamon, who are their own brand of special. If you met them, you know.

In her later years, including the very few of those that were post-retirement, she enjoyed her time with all of her friends, and family whether it was watching a Spurs game, the bachelor, wheel of Fortune with her sister, Thursday night dinners with the Golden Girls and their husbands, or Friday night wine nights.

Vivian passed on exactly how she wanted to in her home at the age of 96. There must be a Mi Tierra in heaven where Leroy, Juanita, Jerry, Don, and Jon have a cold Miller Light waiting for her to cheers with them, saying, “here’s to you, here’s to me, if we ever disagree, well here’s to me.”

Vivian is survived by too many people to even list because of all who she considered family, but it includes everyone here today.