Claude "Dogie" Giles

Claude Ray “Dogie” Giles, age 75, passed away January 11, 2018, at Baylor Scott & White Hillcrest Medical Center in Waco, Texas. A memorial celebration service will be 2:00 p.m., Sunday, January 21, at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Funeral Home, located at 6101 Bosque Boulevard, Waco. Dogie was born January 21, 1942, in Abilene, Texas, to Wylie Stell Ledger Giles and Lewis Elvin Giles. He grew up in Abilene and attended Abilene High School. After graduation, he attended McMurry University, where he was vice president of the student body and President of Kiva Social Club. He graduated in 1964 with a double major in history and English and received a scholarship to attend Baylor Law School, where he was a member of the Delta Theta Phi Law Fraternity. Dogie graduated from law school in 1968 and began his career at Edwards & Faulkner Law Firm. In 1970, he was made a junior partner. In 1972, he was elected into the membership of the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association. In 1977, Dogie left the firm and opened Giles & Makowsky with his good friend, the late Dan Makowsky. They practiced together until 1993, when Dan retired. Dogie continued his practice and his son, Lewis, joined the firm in 2008. In 2009, Lewis was made partner and the firm became Giles and Giles. During his career, Dogie served on the local Grievance Committee, the Heart of Texas Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse, and was a member of the McLennan County Bar Association and the McLennan County Criminal Defense Lawyers Association. He was repeatedly recognized as a member of the Pro Bono College of the State Bar of Texas for contributions to the delivery of legal services to low-income Texans. Dogie loved to help people and enjoyed the relationships he built with his clients, many times representing families for multiple generations. During his life Dogie was known as a generous, friendly, witty man with a heart of gold who never met a stranger. He enjoyed poker with his friends, driving his Model A, listening to music, watching movies, traveling, and attending his grandchildren’s activities. He was active in the AA community and a frequent speaker at meetings around town. He helped many people with their sobriety and celebrated his own AA forty-year birthday last April. Dogie was preceded in death by his parents, Stell and Lewis Giles; and his sister, Patsy Giles. Survivors include his brother, Lewis Giles, and wife, Barbara, of Garland,; his sister, Gwyn Kozma and husband, Dick, of Newnan, Georgia; and his children, Elizabeth Green of Belton, Catherine Cook and husband, Jack, of Crawford, Lewis Giles and wife, Cindy, of Waco, Shelley Giles of Waco, Michael Giles and wife, Angi, of Crawford, Greg Giles of Waco, Lori Evans of Birmingham, Alabama, Toby Scott of Helena, Alabama, and Jennifer Scott of Arlington. He is also survived by fifteen grandchildren, Tara Frymark, Cooper Green, Cori Burkett, Curtis Cook, Edgar Giles, Brittany Jimenez, Macie Barber, Hollie Kent, Cierra Barber, Kristen Ratliff, Kori Giles, Korbin Giles, Ashton Giles, Kate Reid, Derek DeBandi; and five great-grandchildren, Carson, Kenley, and Grayson Engelhardt and Isaiah and Cha’Leigh Jimenez. Memorials may be made to Greater Waco Legal Services, P.O. Box 689, Waco, TX 76703-0689; or to Central Texas Intergoup, 3201 N Franklin, Suite 9, Waco TX 76710. The family invites you to leave a message or memory on our “Tribute Wall” at www.WHBfamily.com