Jennifer Elaine Doornbos

Jennifer Elaine Doornbos, 64, of Nederland, died Sunday, August 8, 2021, at Christus Southeast Texas – St. Elizabeth, Beaumont. She was born April 2, 1957, in DeRidder, Louisiana, to Peggy Lou Durham Doornbos and Richard E. Doornbos.

Jennifer moved to Southeast Texas with her family in 1971 and graduated from Nederland High School in 1975. She had a passion for life and many causes are better today because of her time and efforts. She is best described by her friends as a strong, intelligent woman that never backed down.

A devoted Texas A&M forever Aggie, Jennifer harbored a constant thirst for knowledge. She went back to school and studied geology; business; environmental science; counseling; trade relations; and equine science at different times in her life receiving multiple degrees.

Jennifer began her life riding in the truck with her dad to check cattle, horses, and attend livestock sales, shows, and she learned the hard work of ranching and farming in her young life. It was here she developed her love for animals.

Born with a passion for animals and a competitive spirit, she was drawn to the show ring with her animals. In the 1980’s she created Lazy P Quarter Horses and took it to the next level showing champion American Quarter Horses. A stallion named Eazy Jet was purchased to show and begin a breeding program. The stallion won many championships, including the Houston Livestock Show Reining Champion trophy. Many great Doornbos show horses were bred, raised, and shown by legendary trainers, Matlock Rose and Robbie Schroeder.

She loved the rodeo and built a lifetime of friendships, enjoying the adventure of the road with many local professional cowboys and cowgirls, coast to coast. Like so many others, they were her second family.

In 2009, Jennifer created Seeds of Hope, a community service organization aimed at improving the lives of others in various ways. She worked with the court systems as a court-appointed advocate. She immersed herself in community activities and relations, attending monthly political meets, dedications, and local town meetings. She considered herself a philanthropist and conservationist, working tirelessly with many organizations including the Different Rhythm Foundation.

Her love for cocker spaniels led her to the American Kennel Club show ring where her two champion dogs, Gypsy and Tinkerbell, competed at major shows including the 2020 and 2021 Westminster dog show where Tinkerbell won high honors.

Of all her passions, her friends were always at the top. Jennifer was never too busy to go to lunch and listen. She was the first one to take your car to get the tires checked if you were working and she showered people and their children with unexpected gifts, shared comp tickets to shows at the casino, and always took time to send flowers and attend family and friends’ funerals. Nobody’s funeral was too far for her to go to pay her respects.

She leaves behind many, many friends and family members who will miss her fiery spirit dearly.

Survivors include Barbara D. Walters; Peggy D. Thomas; Carolyn R. Barnett; Billy W. Doornbos; H. Donald Barnett; Cornelus Doornbos III; and David Durham; a host of many more cousins and friends; and her fur babies, Tinker Bell and Gypsy.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Peggy and Richard Doornbos; and sister, Lisa Doornbos Eubanks.

A gathering of Ms. Doornbos’ family and friends will begin at 9:00 a.m., with her funeral service at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, August 17, 2021, at Broussard’s, 505 North 12th Street, Nederland. Her interment will follow at Oak Bluff Memorial Park, Port Neches.

Memorial contributions may be made in Jennifer’s memory to the American Spaniel Club Foundation for Spaniel Cataract Research, c/o Linda Moore, 6627 Robin Road, Dallas, Texas 75209, ascf.treasurer.linda@gmail.com or to First Methodist Church Nederland, P.O. Box 905, Nederland, Texas 77627.

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