J. Howard Buaas

Dr. J. Howard Buaas Dr. J. Howard Buaas, born May 19, 1924, a fourth generation Austinite, whose forebearers were documented as the first Norwegians to land in Texas and Austin in 1839, passed away on Saturday, July 28, 2007. Howard was born to Ferol Linton Buaas and Otto Hugo Buaas. He attended Austin High School, graduating in 1941 and lived to see two of his grandchildren graduate in 2003 and 2006, making four generations of Austin High School graduates. He attended the University of Texas where he was a member of Phi Gamma Delta fraternity and graduated from UT Dental school in Houston in 1946. He was commissioned as Lt. J.G. in the United States Navy and was sent to China on a peacekeeping mission for two years. He served aboard a destroyer tender named “Dixie”. He returned to Austin and began a dental practice that lasted 46 years. He was a member of the Christian Science Church, Lions Club, and Cibitan. He did many years of charitable dentistry for the children of the Junior Helping Hand. He was awarded a 50 year appreciation plaque in 1986 for his outstanding work in dentistry. He is survived by his high school love, Betty Montgomery Buaas, with whom he traveled the world. They had four children, Julianne B. Harris and husband Victor, Brenda Buaas Black and husband, Bob, John Howard Buaas, Jr, and wife Niesje, and James Laurence Buaas and wife Cristina. He is also survived by his sister, Rosemary Buaas Harrison and his nephew William D. Hamilton and wife Kathy, and cousin’s Nell Ryan and Natalie Carver. His grandchildren include Katie H. Patterson and husband Brian, Victor Harris, Jr, and wife Jenn, Ben Black, Julie Anne Black, Brittany Anne Buaas, Courtnay Buaas, and Allison Buaas. He is also survived by his stepson Michael Montgomery Smith and wife Paula, and their children, Brandon, Shannon and Dylan Smith, and stepdaughter Pamela Rosar and husband Wolfgang of Madras, India, and step-grandson Sean McCarty of Oklahoma City. Honorary pallbearers are Dr. B. Brooks Goldsmith, Dr. Morton Krumholz, Dr. Richard Buck, Col. Art Meyer, Mr. Roger Knowles, and Mr. Loren Fletcher. His life was devoted to his family who benefited greatly from his creative hobbies. He was a master craftsman working with wood from small fountain pens to large bookcases. He made jewelry, polished stones, was a certified gemologist and an avid photographer. He left many beautiful memories. The family would like to thank Hospice of Austin for their caring, loving support. We would encourage donations to this charity in Howard’s memory. Special thanks go to Paula Pratt and hospice caregiver Vyvyan Lucas who brightened our lives. Our thanks, also, to all the friends for their unending support and love. Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. on Tuesday, July 31 at Weed Corley-Fish, 3125 North Lamar. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, Aug. 1 at 3:00 p.m. at Tarrytown United Methodist Church on Exposition Blvd. Obituary and guestbook online at wcfish.com