Douglas Keith Bellis (Doug) Obituary

Douglas "Doug" Keith Bellis passed peacefully on April 20th, 2024, in the presence of family and friends. Born in Germany in 1955 and raised on east Norman's rolling red sandstone hills Doug was a global citizen with easy going charm, boundless curiosity, and a high tolerance for work. Doug went through the Norman school system and graduated from Norman High School in 1973 where he played trombone and several varsity sports, excelling at swimming the backstroke. Doug lettered on the OU swim team as a freshman and swam throughout his life. If there was water, he was backstroking, even in Lake Thunderbird.

Earning his Baccalaureate in geology from the University of Oklahoma in 1978, Doug moved to Colorado working as a minerals geologist, including drilling uranium orebodies on the Western Slope. He could ski the black runs at Telluride but was a horrible ice skater. After 3 Mile Island Doug transitioned to oil and gas, spending the rest of his career at midsize companies, even having a good run as a "self-unemployed" independent. Doug kept honing his skills and helped lead Chesapeake Energy's global unconventional team evaluating shale plays of the world. He finished his career as Senior VP of Geology for Warwick Investments. Doug was an active member of the OU Geology's Advisory Council and served on the Board of the Oklahoma Geological Society. Throughout his professional ascent Doug generously shared his time coaching junior staff, practiced patience with management, and advanced more by merit than personal ambition.

Doug's eidetic memory and geo-mania let him regale all, especially his family on road trips, with detailed tangential stories of formations and geological history- usually with at least one hand on the wheel. Like many Sooner-Born-and-Sooner-Bred, Doug followed OU sports, especially the football team. He could recall specific plays and final scores from the Switzer glory days, as well as the misery of the Gomer Jones years. Saturdays at Owen Field was his version of the Haj.

Doug was time-challenged and embraced spontaneity; exemplified by the day his life would be forever entwined with Tina Erickson who was working as an aerospace beverage server on an Air Micronesia flight from Papua New Guinea to Guam. That story is too long for this writing, but love at first sight culminated in marriage six months later. A marriage that produced two wonderful daughters, Jenna Andrea and Carmen Camille who now reside out of state working in nursing and city planning, respectively.

Tina and Doug settled into an eclectic community of friends in east Norman and their over-sized pool, big enough for Doug to swim laps, was the nucleus for many impromptu parties that extended beyond midnight. Doug preferred metaphysics to religion. When his knowledge of history, politics, and religion met with his love of debate, there was rarely a conversational hiatus in any gathering. When they weren't chilling by the pool, Doug and Tina regularly caught Grateful Dead shows at Red Rocks and spent summer months on a tranquil expanse of lake front in Minnesota where the Bellis clan and Erickson tribe became one Scots-Norwegian family.

In addition to Tina, Jenna, and Carmen, Doug is survived by his mother, Betty Bellis-Mankin, and his younger sister, Karen Powers, nee Bellis. Doug was preceded in death by his dad, Bill Bellis. Doug and Tina developed close friendships with Bill's second family in Wyoming, Janet, stepmother, and stepsiblings Irene, Lewis, and Galen. Doug had a warm extended family circle of cousins, uncles, and aunts, particularly Uncle Ben, and cousins Lynn and Toby.

Plans for memorial services have yet to be scheduled but will be announced when details are firm. Throughout his decline Doug never wavered in his enthusiasm for life. Let us live up to this in our own lives. So, to W.H. Auden shall we say:

Do not stop the clocks, silence the piano nor muffle the drum.

Energy and mass are forever one.

Let crashing waves reclaim the shores.

As mountains rise evermore.

Let the evening stars burn bright.

Beyond the glowing moon's reflected light.

Through our tears we cheer and laugh.

Celebrating a man who never did things by half.

Doug Bellis passed away after a brave battle with ALS. Doug was able to attend our 50th Class Reunion which was a real blessing to get to visit with him that weekend.

The family held private services. 

UPDATE:

There will be a memorial/celebration of life in honor Doug June 21 at The Venue at Freedom Farms, 4701 N. Porter in Norman. The event will be from 1-5 PM with eulogy and sharing at 2:00. Light snacks, tea and water will be provided and there will be a cash bar with wine and beer.

Please respond if you plan to attend to adequately plan for the event. Also if you want to share some stories or thoughts about Doug, please let us know.