Howard Francis Barrett-Smith

Funeral services for Howard Francis Barrett-Smith, 84, of Katy, are 10:30 a.m. Saturday, November 15, 2008, at Epiphany of the Lord Catholic Community in Katy. Monsignor Jack Dinkins will preside over the Mass and Fr. William McNamara, a longtime family friend, will be the homilist. Interment follows at Davis-Greenlawn Memorial Park in Rosenberg. A visitation for friends and family will be held at 6 p.m. Friday, November 14, 2008, at the Davis-Greenlawn Memorial Park Chapel. Father McNamara will conduct a 7 p.m. Rosary Service. Howard Francis Barrett-Smith was born April 12, 1924, in Chicago, IL, to Thomas Ian and Helen Straten Barrett-Smith. He passed away Wednesday, November 12, 2008, after a valiant battle with lung cancer. Howard loved family and family life and was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. Howard graduated from Loyola Academy Prep School in Chicago in 1942. He immediately enlisted in the Army Air Corps and was stationed at Midland Army Air Field. He met and married Joan Dockrey in 1944. Their only child, Pamela Joan, was born in 1945. Following his honorable discharge as a LT2C, Howard and Joan settled in Odessa, TX where he worked for Southwestern Bell. He was a local businessman, owning Southwest Wheel Alignment for 15 years and later A to Z Rental. In 1973, Howard and Joan moved to Pauma Valley, CA where they owned and operated a commercial orange grove. They moved back to Texas in 1977 where he began his teaching career at Midland Lee High School. Howard taught vocational education and was instrumental in developing the vocational education program for the Midland Independent School District. While teaching at Midland Lee, Howard worked toward one of his greatest achievements. He enrolled in Wayland Baptist University in 1979, graduating in 1982 with a Bachelor of Science in Occupational Education Degree, 40 years after graduating from high school. He retired from teaching in 1989. Howard and Joan also owned and operated a commercial pecan orchard in West Texas until 1993 when they retired to Katy, Texas. Following his retirement, Howard undertook many new challenges with a zest for life. At age 75 he taught himself to read music and play the organ. Howard was a dedicated member of the Epiphany of the Lord Catholic Community in Katy. Over the years, Howard was an active member of every community where he lived. He was a member of the Odessa Optimist Club, served as treasurer of The Mavericks senior citizens group of St. Justins Martyr Catholic Church in Houston, vice president of Fort Bend County MUD #34, president of the Hickory Creek Homeowner's Association, was an active member of the American Legion for 40 years and a long time member of the Knights of Columbus. He was preceded in death by his parents, Thomas and Helen Barrett-Smith; brother Straten Barrett-Smith; and sister Moira Barrett-Smith Geraty. He is survived by his loving wife of 64 years, Joan Dockrey Barrett-Smith of Katy; daughter Pamela Barrett-Smith Gray and husband Larry of Katy; granddaughter Laurie Gray Boudreaux and husband Brett of Simonton; grandson Michael Howard Gray and wife Sabine of Houston; granddaughter Melissa Gray Colihan and husband Chris of Katy; and granddaughter Amelia Gray Culwell and husband Brian of Houston; great-grandchildren Cole and Gage Boudreaux; Sarah Poole; Carter, Brenna and Tommy Colihan; Grayson, Madison and Lauren Culwell; brothers Thomas Barrett-Smith of Palm Desert, California and Sean Barrett-Smith of Des Moines, IA; and numerous nieces and nephews. Pallbearers will be Larry Gray, Mike Gray, Brett Boudreaux, Chris Colihan, Brian Culwell and Cole Boudreaux. Honorary pallbearers will be Carter Colihan, Grayson Culwell, Gage Boudreaux and Tommy Colihan. Howard had a strong belief no child should go hungry. In this spirit, the family requests in lieu of flowers, donations be made in his name to: Feed the Children, P.O. Box 36, Oklahoma City, OK, 73101 or call 1-800-627-4556. Personal condolences may be left at www.davisgreenlawnfh.com.

Tributes

Howard Francis Barrett-Smith

April 12, 1924 - November 12, 2008