- Doyle Brunson’s wife is Louise Brunson; she was married to the Godfather of poker in 1962 and bore three children
- The 87-year-old is a strong Christian; She worked different jobs to help her family before Brunson became famous and at the time he suffered from melanoma cancer
- The University of Georgia graduate initially had no idea that Doyle was a poker player; she thought he was a bookmaker
Louise Brunson is an American licensed pharmacist and lab technician. She is best known as the wife of legendary poker player Doyle Brunson whom she was married to for half a century (1962-2023).
While she claimed success in her own right through her work in the health sector, she reached fame due to her marriage to Doyle – a man considered the godfather of poker. He is also a Poker Hall of Famer and the first player to win $1 million in poker tournaments.
Her Family, Education, and Life Before Fame
Louise was born around 1936 or 1937 and was raised in Florida, a state in the southeastern region of the United States.
At a young age, she lost her father and this made her work harder in her education and career.
With respect to her education, she earned a degree in lab technology from the University of Georgia. Subsequently, she went back to school to study to earn a degree in pharmacology.
The Career of Doyle Brunson’s Wife
Louis Brunson was first a lab technician before becoming a pharmacist.
At a point in her career, she was a sought-after pharmacist who received 20 job offers but decided to head out to San Angelo to work at a drugstore.
Her career blossomed and at some point, she was the main support in her family.
How Doyle Brunson’s Wife Met and Married the Poker Player
Shortly after Louis moved to San Angelo and while working at a drugstore, she met Doyle in 1959.
They met at a Western music show. They had a conversation and soon, they began dating.
Unfortunately, Louise did not understand Doyle’s job. He told her that he was a bookmaker (another word for poker). Since she wasn’t sure of this career, she thought that it was bookkeeping.
Well, Louise was already into Doyle and his career did not end their relationship.
In August 1962, the couple became married and soon welcomed three children – Todd Brunson, Pamela Brunson, and the late Doyla Brunson who died in 1984 at 18.
Louise’s only son, Todd is the most famous of Doyle’s children. He is a professional poker player who helped in bringing to the family the history of the first father-son combination to each win bracelets at the World Series.
Their daughter Pamela also played professional poker and recorded an interesting result. Subsequently, Pamela headed to work as a secretary among other jobs before she returned to poker and according to sources, she is retired from the game.
See Also: Who Is Doyle Brunson? Cause of Death And Net Worth
Louise Brunson and Her Husband Have Both Suffered from Cancer
Doyle Brunson and his wife have both suffered cancer at different points in their lives. Doyle suffered from the disease six times.
The first time he suffered from the ailment was while Louise was pregnant at the early stage of their marriage. He was diagnosed with cancer after a tumor was discovered in his neck. He was given three months to live but surprisingly, there was no trace of the disease.
They accorded Doyle’s healing to prayer and faith in God.
Also, Loiuse developed a tumor and went under surgery, and the cancer disappeared.
The couple is not the only one in the family to have gone through a major health challenge. Their daughter Doylas was diagnosed with scoliosis – a condition in which a person’s spine has a sideways curve. Interestingly, the spine straightened within three months. At 18 in 1984, she died of a heart-valve condition.