James Duane Howell

Duane was born in Post TX. He grew up on a dryland cotton and grain sorghum farm in Lynn County south of Lubbock. He was a golden glove boxer in high school. He studied agriculture at Texas Tech three years, quit a year to farm his granddad's place, returned to Tech and graduated with a B.A. degree in journalism in 1953. He was sports editor of La Ventana, the Tech annual, his senior year.

Duane was a farm reporter at the Abilene Reporter-News for four years. He moved to Lubbock and became farm editor of The Avalanche-Journal in 1957. He retired from the A-J newspaper in 1996. In addition to working at the A-J he published a weekly cotton letter that was circulated throughout the U.S. and in 33 foreign countries. He also traded cotton futures as a speculator. Duane wrote cotton articles for DTN Progressive Farmer from 1980 through 2024. He also owned and managed dry-land and irrigated farms in Lynn County.

Duane and his first wife “Gerry” joined the First Baptist Church in Lubbock, TX in 1956 after they married. Duane also served as the president of the Downtown Bible Class.

Duane was proceeded in death by:

His first wife: Ava Geraldine (Gerry) Howell, in 1990.

His second wife: Nan Beth Howell, in 2024.

His son James Lonnie Howell passed away in 1997.

His Father Lonnie Dexter Howell in 1987.

His Mother Fleda Velma Howell in 1999.

Duane is survived by:

Sister: Velma Ruth Shambeck

Daughters: Cynthia Ann Rice and Lisa Beth Theriot.

Grandchildren: Tasha Howell, Bryan Rice, Brandon Rice, Bradley Rice, Alyssa Sanders, and Jarrett Theriot.

Great-grandchildren: Trenton Howell, Jacqueline King, Alyss Rice, Jasmine Rice, Christine Rice, Lilith Rice, Zachary Sanders, and Ava Sanders.

Son-in-laws: Ronald Paul Rice and Leon Ray Theriot II

A memorial service will be held on June 6th at 11 AM at the Abbey Chapel at Resthaven Funeral Home, 5740 19th St, Lubbock, Texas, 79407.