Houston, Texas – William Gerald Lott was born to Aaron Lott and Ora Caughman Lott on June 20, 1933, in Seminary, Mississippi. Gerald’s life journey brought him from the rapids of Okatoma River to the bayous of southwest Louisiana, the offshore Gulf of Mexico, the towering skyscrapers of Houston, Texas, and various worldwide venues. He passed away peacefully on July 3, 2024.
In his younger years he excelled in football, basketball and academics. He was valedictorian of his graduating class at Seminary High School. Gerald volunteered to serve in the Army during the Korean War. Upon his return, he enrolled and graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi with bachelor’s degrees in Geology and Mathematics. He did further coursework at Cornell University. He was focused on filtration, drilling mud mixing technologies, and petroleum engineering. Education was of utmost importance to him.
Gerald’s humble beginnings laid the foundation for his exceptional entrepreneurial spirit. He had an inventor’s mind and was always armed with a pen and notepad nearby for when a new idea popped up. He loved his early morning walks in Memorial Park. It was during these walks and his research at the Fondren Library at Rice University that he accomplished his greatest innovations. These innovations materialized into twenty-five patents credited to his name. Two of his inventions are a part of the permanent exhibitions in The Wiess Energy Hall at the Houston Museum of Natural Science “ENTER THE VORTEX!”.
He was the principal in multiple companies including Centrifuges Inc., Fluid Dynamics Inc., FloTrend Systems Inc., Aberdeen Filtration, Inc., Vortex Ventures Inc., and more recently Compatible Components Corporation.
Gerald was an avid reader and loved to study the mechanics of how things worked. He had an appreciation for craftmanship and always found beauty in even simple things. He had an unbounding charitable heart and was thoughtful and caring to all those he held dear.
Gerald was highly respected by his peers in the oil and gas industry. He worked and contributed to make a difference; however, his most cherished roles were husband, father, brother, grandpa (GP), and friend. Survivors include his loving wife and business partner of 51 years, Joyce Angelle Lott, who was always by his side. His sons: William Barton (Brenda) Lott and Michael (Donna) Lott, Grandchildren: Kimberly (Shane) Fontenot, William Jeffery (Ashley) Lott, Danielle (Mary Catherine) Lott, Joshua (Tiffany) Lott, Emily, Jason and Jacob Lott, Angela (Paul) Connolly, and Michelle (Kyle) Stout. Great grandchildren: Kelsey and Kailey Guidry, William Grayson, Brody and Scarlett Lott, Courtney Gonzales, Krista and Erik Stout. Great-Great Grandchildren: Karter Keown and Braxten Lormand. In-laws: Betty Lott, Randall (Linda) Angelle, Patricea (Lloyd) Berard, Wendy (Michael) Soto, Angelic (Albert “Buz”) LeBlanc, and numerous nieces and nephews’ close friends and his beloved Lady Augusta (Aggie).
He was preceded in death by his Parents: Aaron and Ora Lott, Daughter: Vickie Lott Dean, Siblings: Janelle Lott Foshee and Aaron Charles Lott, Brother-in-law: Orville Foshee, and the mother of his children, Joy Day.
Special thanks to his medical and hospice teams, caregivers, and especially the loyal and kind Maria “Angie” Burkhart.
A celebration of Gerald’s Life will be held at Geo. H Lewis and Sons, 1010 Bering Drive, Houston, Texas 77057 on Thursday, July 11, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. The family will greet friends and family at a reception following the service. In lieu of flowers please donate to a charity of your choice.
“I planted seeds for trees that I will never lay under.”
(Pd.Adv.)
