Harold Metts

Harold Metts, of Houston, died at home peacefully on Wednesday, the 22nd of July 2026. He was born on the 2nd of November 1931, on the Metts Farm in Security, Montgomery County, Texas. A loving husband, Harold is survived by his wife of thirty-one years, Martha C. Metts.

He was preceded in death by Patricia Burke Metts, his first wife of thirty-six years on the 21st of September 1993; and his daughter, Sarah Metts Howell on the 6th of February 2020.

A loving father, grandfather, and great grandfather, Harold is survived by his son, Mark Metts and his wife Gina DeBottis Metts; Sarah’s husband, Gary Howell; Martha’s daughter, Shelley Anne Barber; five wonderful granddaughters, Rachel Metts Salim and her husband Steve Salim; Elizabeth Metts Julien and her husband Isaac Julien; Erin Howell Peace and her husband Lucas Peace; Allison Metts Ziegler and her husband Cole Ziegler; and Meagan Howell Wilson and her husband Hudson Wilson; and five special great grandchildren, Emma Metts Peace, Oliver Mark Peace, Hudson Holmes (Tripp) Wilson III, Beau Howell Wilson, and Mollie Mae Salim. Harold is also survived by his niece, Jane Landers; and Richard Metts, Harold’s cousin, good friend and neighbor who, for over thirty-five years, provided invaluable advice and assistance in the restoration and maintenance of the Metts Farm.

Harold was a committed Christian whose favorite Bible verses were John 3:16 and John 14, as well as the first four words of the Book of Genesis. He joined Grace Presbyterian Church in 1973; thereafter, over a period of forty years he served the church in several capacities including that of Trustee and as an Elder.

He was a fifth generation Texan and, in his family, the first to attend college. He was educated through the eighth grade in a one room schoolhouse in Security. Thereafter, he was Salutatorian in the 1948 graduating class of Conroe High School. In 1952 he received a BBA degree with honors from The University of Texas at Austin. He then served three years aboard the aircraft carrier USS Essex as a Lieutenant Junior Grade in the gunnery department during the Korean War. Later he was honorably discharged from the United States Navy as a Lieutenant. Following that service, he graduated from the University of Texas School of Law in 1958. He then served as a Briefing Attorney for the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals for a one-year term ending in 1959. Thereafter, he practiced as a country lawyer in Liberty, Texas for five years. During that time, he served as member of the City Council in Liberty and as President of the Chambers-Liberty Counties Bar Association. On the 1st of August 1964, he joined the law firm of Baker Botts, and specialized in estate and tax law for thirty-four years. He was the initial Administrative Partner for Baker Botts and served in that capacity for ten years beginning in 1974. He retired as a Senior Partner of Baker Botts on the 1st of January 1997.

He was active in many civic and non-profit organizations and served as President of the Houston Club; President of the Houston Bar Association; a Director of Houston Endowment Inc.; Trustee of Sheltering Arms; Chairman of the Texas Presbyterian Foundation; Chairman of the Real Estate, Probate and Trust Law Section, and a Director of the State Bar of Texas; a member of the Houston Bar Foundation and the Texas Bar Foundation; a member of the Development Board of the University of Texas Health Science Center—Houston; President of the Colonneh Club; a member of the Houston Racquet Club; a member of the Petroleum Club of Houston; a member of the President’s Advisory Council of Austin College; a member of the Chancellor’s Council at the University of Texas System; and a member of the Littlefield Society of the University of Texas.

A memorial service is to be conducted at Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church, 11612 Memorial Drive in Houston. A more detailed obituary and service information will be published at a later date.

In lieu of customary remembrances the family request with gratitude that contributions be made in Harold’s memory to the Brookwood Community, or M.D. Anderson Cancer Center by selecting the respective link below under "Donations" or to the charity of your choice.

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