Douglas George Siess

June 7, 1941 - November 18, 2021

Douglas G Siess (Doug), passed away peacefully at home on 18 November 2021 aged 80 years. He leaves behind his loving wife Mary C Siess, son Douglas Jon Siess (Amanda), daughter Kristin Jo Siess and their mother Mary Jane Toepfer, his niece Linda Famularo (Vincent) and nephew Jimmy Glen (Judy), brother in law Kenneth Edwards (Denise), all his Welsh family and his longtime caregiver Deborah Klipstine. He was pre-deceased by his parents George F Siess, his wife Josephine McCracken Siess and his sister Caroline Schoener. Doug was born in Queens New York and went to elementary school there. The family moved to Miami, Fl after his father was blinded in a subway accident where Doug spent most of his middle and high school years, graduating from SW Miami high school 7th out of a year of 400 students. He was in the National Honors Society and was a merit scholar. He graduated from the University of Florida in 1963 with a Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering. Doug worked for Dupont for 37 years before taking an early retirement package and moving back to Florida. Doug worked at a number of Dupont sites on the East Coast including Parlin NJ, Edminton MD, Towanda PA, he became an expert in Chemical Coating Technology. His work also took him abroad to Dupont sites in Brazil and throughout the UK on a number of occasions. While on one of his trips to the UK, he met and on a later trip married Mary Edwards, a computer systems analyst, who helped him with computer software problems while he was the Chemical Plant Manager at the newly acquired UK manufacturing sites in England. After retiring, Doug did consulting work for Dupont and helped develop an ‘Inherently Safer Processes’ into new manufacturing projects at sites in a number of states in the USA and also Ruabon Wales. Since retiring he and Mary split their time between St. Augustine Florida and the Tanat Valley in North Wales where Doug became known as ‘Doug the hug’ and also the BBQ king where he and Mary would both help local schools and churches with fundraisers. Doug has been active with a number of local organizations, on the board of directors at The St Augustine Art Association and The EMMA Concert Association. He helped with the Altrusa club and the Textile Arts Guild when Mary joined these organizations and until he had his paralyzing stroke in 2016. When life allowed, there were always pets in Doug’s life, mostly dogs who he loved to spoil. He enjoyed watercolor painting, Carving wood, target shooting, many sports activities and travelling. He will be sorely missed for his sense of humor and his famous bear hugs that he shared with his family and many friends. A celebration of life will be held at a later date. Donations may be made in his name to The EMMA Concert Association, The St Augustine Art Association, Wags and Whiskers or the charity of your choice.