I remember Dewayne very well.  I went to T.F.North. and was on the Speech and Debate Team with him.  I admired and learned much from Dewayne's example of excellence.
My sympathy to his family and friends.

In 1986 Dewayne hired me in what was known as the Management Services Division of the Finance and Administration Department. He promised that if I did what I was supposed to do, I could have a nice long career with the City of Houston. He was correct. Thanks to him giving me a chance, I have served 24 years with fond memories of Dewayne. Gaining his respect wasn't easy;however, once you did, it could last forever. May God shine His face upon you and give you peace and comfort.

As members of the Urban Consortium Energy Task Force during the '80s, we all benefitted from DeWayne's steady and thoughtful leadership. We represented the larger US cities, and over a decade developed a lasting respect and admiration for those city and county representatives who set the highest standards. DeWayne stands out as a unique beacon of public service: a mentor, leader, thoughtful counselor; the kind of role model whose contributions to a more civil and resilient society will be felt for decades to come. He has left us too soon.

I had the honor of working along side Dewayne in Purchasing and I am saddened by the loss.  Dewayne believed in his staff and taught them to build on that belief and excel by example.

I remember him from grammar school; small town Lincoln school where we all knew each other and grew up together.  He was a good, kind, polite boy.  As  I look at his recent graduation picture, I can still see that same boy in his face.  My sympathies to his family.

Kathy (George) Hughes

God bless during this time of sorrow; love, peace, and happiness to the remembrance of Dewayne

Please take care

I worked with Dewayne at the City. His predecessor hired me and got transferred out just before I started. Fortunately my new boss was Dewayne! Lucky me. Dewayne loved Kathie and his children fiercely. He was a very kind soul and will be greatly missed.

Dr. Huckabay I will always cherish the GREAT team we built, the work and most of all that we took the road last traveled by!

Dewayne and I went to the same grade school and high school.  How wonderful to read all the tributes and recall the same wit and humor that was him continued to impact so many people today.

I met Dewayne very early in my career in the City Legal Department.  Always a pleasure to work with, he was uniformly constructive,honest and unusually intelligent in his approach to whatever the problem was.  And lots of fun. He figures in my best memories of life at City Hall.

  Dewayne was a classmate of mine at T.F.North High School. It's always a very sad bit of news for me when I hear of the death of one of my old classmates. I express my condolences to his family and wish them all the very best at this difficult time.
                                            Rick Richwalski,class of 1965

The Urban Consortium Energy Task Force spawned lots of wonderful friendships, but none better than with Dewayne.  Dewayne was never without a twinkle in his eye and a look to his next adventure.  I was lucky to have had the opportunity to share a number of those adventures and laugh when I think about many of them - from finding snow at the Grand Canyon to watching Dewayne devour the cheesecake at the Carnegie Deli.  What fun it all was. To Laura and Eric, I am so glad to have gotten to know you a little, when you were little.  As you grew, Dewayne was so proud of you both.  How wonderful to have had such a dad. 
Kathie, Eric and Laura, my deepest condolences.  Dewayne will be missed by so many people but let us all remember the great joy with with he lived his life and was so generous to share with us.

I always enjoyed the time I got to spend with Dewayne, especially when we debated politics. Wish I could have had the opportunity to spend more time with him. 
God bless him on his journey to heaven and also Kathie( sorry I never had the pleasure to meet you), Eric, Laura, and everyone else.

We first met Dewaye in 1969 when he and Anne's high school girlfriend Pat where driving through western New York. After dropping Pat off at the airport in NYC he came back and drove Anne and our two young rambunctious daughters to Michigan on his way home. The four of us crammed into his tiny sports car was a test of fortitude  for his future as a loving and giving parent.  We kept in touch for fortysome years and visited him in every state he lived. We have wonderful memories of Dewayne and will miss him very much.

Anne and Bob

Dewayne will be sadly missed. He was a good man who loved his family very much. I was very sad to hear of his untimely passing. My heart goes out to his Family in this difficult time.

Dwayne was a high school classmate of mine (class of 1965) To say he was an overachiever is an understatement but he always set a high standard for himself. I am so sorry to hear of his passing but not surprised to hear he earned a PHd. So like him - a fighter and learner to the end.
Sandy Muta Lewis - Lowell, IN

Dewayne and I went to Lincoln Elementary School and TF North in Calumet City.  I always admired him for his intellect and wit.  My condolences to his family and friends.

I have fond memories of Dwayne - he was always smiling and happy.  His passing is part of he new journey, his new adventure.  

Barbara (Goldys) Vargo [aka "Golide"]

I came to know DeWayne through the Urban Consortium Energy Task Force, and he was a source of strength to that organization, with his consummate professionalism, depth of technical and administrative skills, and moreover his immense willingness to be of help and to always do the right thing.  But the bonds of friendship far outlasted that organization.  Dewayne's capacity to care for others, the enthusiasm he brought to both daily life and to entirely new challenges, and just the simple joy of spending time with him made him someone I will never forget.  Like anyone who knew Dewayne, I will sorely miss him.  Charlie Williams

With all my sympathy at your time of loss.  May Dewayne rest in peace in a better world above.  I was a T.F. North Class of 1965 classmate of Dewaynes.

I knew Dewayne for only a brief time, but was very impressed with his intelligence and devotion to his family, including his son Eric and daughter Laura. He is gone much too soon because I looked forward to getting to know him much more and for the chance for Eric to share more memories with him. He was a good father and a good man.

I am a cousin who grew up with Dewayne.  He was always reading and was so smart.  In recent years I have come to know his great sense of humor and loved when he got tickled and giggled.  He will be missed immensely. Wanda Straker (Cadiz, KY)

Dewayne was in my graduate student cohort at UH.  It soon became apparent that Dewayne, with his intelligence and extensive knowledge, would make a very gifted academic.  Dewayne was in almost all my classes and I am very saddened by the news. My condolences to the family.

I have so many fond memories of Dewayne and of his family.  I first met him at one of the Urban Consortium Energy Task Force meetings and we had a great time sharing a meal together. I recall a lot of laughter and maybe a bit too much wine!  I always looked forward to seeing him at the next meeting. Dewayne visited us in San Francisco, once  with Laura and Eric and later with Kathie. It was if we had just seen eachother.  Our friendship was a like a cozy pair of slippers - a perfect fit, warm and comfortable.  I tear up thinking we won't be able to share some more fun together.  

Kathie, Laura and Eric, please know you are in our prayers.  Much love Shauna Rose and Raymond Sullivan - San Francisco

I knew Dewayne so long through public service that his loss both saddens and shocks me.  I feel cheated that he died so young, and so soon after he had earned the long overdue PhD.  Dewayne's contributions to public service stand as a shining example to young people who wish to pursue the same career.  It is a real loss to Dewayne's family, but an especially acute loss to the scores of students who had yet to experience his intellect, his interest in them and his ability to inspire good works. My condolences go to Dewayne's family, and to them I say: Please know that Dewayne is already severely missed.

I worked for Dewayne at City Hall when he was the City Purchasing Agent. He was a very kind and thoughtful person.  My thoughts and prayers are with his wife Kathy, as well as his sone and daughter.  He loved you all. I'm sorry to hear Dewayne has passed.

Dewayne was a bright, eager and compassionate champion for the many causes he pursued.  He has always amazed me with his drive, determination and tireless efforts to work through the cumbersome bureaucracy of government.  He was always honest in his dealings and passionate about his work, and in his desire to help others excel.

Dewayne loved humor and on a humorous note, in today’s environment one might consider him a “hoarder” at the office. When I first started working with Dewayne, I was always intrigued with how, at the end of each day, his desk was clear of all paper and the usual clutter that most of us create.  I later discovered, when searching for a report for him, that he had mountains of reports and paper stacked neatly in his file cabinets.  However he knew exactly where everything was, directing me to the drawer, the pile and how far down to dig to find what he needed. When Dewayne finally retired from the city after over two decades of service, he left me 6-large cabinets filled with his “collection” of 20+ year old reports dating back to 1979. If only we knew that there was a TV series in the making with Dewayne.

Aside from his work, Dewayne loved to share stories about his family and was especially proud of his two kids, Laura and Eric. His eyes would light up whenever we spoke of their accomplishments and their growth over the years to become the bright and accomplished individuals that they are today.  He was a true family man and deeply valued his relationships with those close to him.

It is deeply saddening to confront the loss of Dewayne and I will miss his intellect and friendship.  He was always one to attempt to maintain friendships by sending a card during the holidays or dropping a line from one of his many travel destinations. He had a certain edge about him that made him stand apart from the crowd but he never looked down upon or spoke poorly of anyone he knew, treating everyone as equals.  He was a unique individual that will be missed by many.

May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.

I worked with DeWayne at City Hall, General Services Dept. He was our City Purchasing Agent.  He was a very good supervisor and took care of his employees.  He will be missed dearly.  All my condoles to his family.  Esme Lopez

It was a pleasure to have worked with you during our years together at the City of Houston.  My prayers are with you and your family.

dewayne will be missed i guess i thought he would live forever so schocking it seems the good die too young   eddie martin

I worked with Dewayne from '93 to '97 doing the work I looked to find in Houston. Dewayne liked to be at the forefront of environmental work and we took it on in our administrative capacity. His high standards and innovative focus was a good match and I enjoyed working for him. I remember his Sierra Club calendars and his love for travel. I saw Dewayne sometime in 2001 at an environmental fair on Allen Parkway and we had some quick hellos. Earlier this year I had the opportunity to find Dewayne at the service of a former colleague of ours and we had the chance to tell stories and catch up on the years in between. I found out he polished his Spanish and was now at University of Houston, and he found out I was at his alma mater. I am glad we had that opportunity to catch up. I believe Dewayne enjoyed what he did and looked at things with humor and a keen eye.

Dewayne was such a kind man and we are so sorry for your loss. 

Jennifer Martin Paige 
(Patsy Huckabay Martin's daughter)

Dewayne is my cousin.  I admired him as a child, as he was adventurous in the big world and I was just a little girl from a small country town.  Through the years and the miles, he has been faithful to drive the distance to stay in touch with his Huckabay family, even though his link has been gone for 12 years;his beloved father Dinver.  When we gather again in the old Knob school house, we will miss his presence deeply, but his legacy will live on in the stories of the memories as we pass them around the room.

OBITUARY

Dewayne Huckabay

July 13, 1947 – November 30, 2010

Calvary Hill Funeral Home & Cemetery

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