H.T. Miser

89, of Houston, Texas, peacefully passed into eternal life on Friday, November 4, 2016. Born to Henry and Effie Miser on February 23, 1927 in Rosedale, Oklahoma, HT had six sisters: Juanita, Audrey, Elaine, Wanda, Marna Ruth and Freda Ann. All preceded him in death. The family moved to Clovis, New Mexico when H T was a young child. He was an excellent student and, as the only son, performed many farm chores. When his father became ill, he assumed much of the responsibility of the farm for several months. Desiring to attend a rare swimming outing, he refused to tell his parents that he was quite ill. Upon his return the doctor determined that H T had a ruptured appendix. Not expecting him to survive, the doctor told H T’s mother to feed him “whatever he wanted”. The boy ate fried chicken and recovered at home even though the physician never closed the wound. H T continued to excel in school and upon graduation entered a pre-engineering program at Oklahoma University. As a student, H T joined the Army Student Reserve Troop Program, ASTRP on May 23, 1944. He was selected as a Second Lieutenant in the ASTRP. Prior to graduation, Cadet Miser entered the Army on February 2, 1945 and served as part of the occupation force with the 8th Army in Japan, achieving the rank of Technical SGT as a Chief Clerk, Logistics. For his service, T SGT Miser was awarded the Army Commendation Medal by Lt Gen Eichelberger, 8th Army Commander. Upon his separation from active duty on November 30, 1946, H T returned home to Oklahoma. Choosing to forego an opportunity to attend MIT, he courted and married the love of his life, Marie Iona Brown on April 19, 1947. After a year of farming in Oklahoma, H T began his career in the Oil and Gas Industry. For the next 8 years H T “doodle-bugged” for City Services, surveying and logging wells throughout West Texas and Eastern New Mexico. The family of two soon became a family of six, living in a Spartan travel trailer as they followed a seismograph crew from town to town. To offer his young wife some relief from long dusty days of managing four small children, H T offered to do the night time bottle feedings as long as Marie would make him a banana pudding. Many banana puddings and many pounds later, HT traded the trailer for some furniture and rented a house in Midland, Texas. In 1956 H T became a pump salesman with Gardner Denver, moving his family to Irving, Texas. After many months of travel and time away from his family, H T moved the family to Houston and began a 34 year career with UTEX industries. UTEX manufactures and sells plastic and elastomeric custom molded seals and packing for the oil field and energy market domestically and internationally. With his partners at UTEX, H T invented and patented several parts for centrifugal and mud pumps. During his lengthy career at UTEX he traveled internationally, developing relationships worldwide. Upon his retirement as President of UTEX, H T joined a former business associate, Bill Heathcott, at CDI Polytek, where he also became President prior to retiring. He continued to consult in the industry and enjoyed an extended relationship with David Pierce of Humble Industries. Throughout his career and especially the past twenty years, H T has enjoyed the companionship of Charles Taylor, whom he named, “the brother I always wanted.” The family is indebted to Charles for his dedicated friendship to our father and grandfather for many years. H T gave his heart to Jesus at the age of 14. He was a devout man of faith his entire life. Wherever he was in the world he rose early for private devotions and attended church services. He enjoyed discussions worldwide with men of many faiths. As a charter member of Westbury Baptist Church in Houston, H T has served as a Deacon and a Bible study teacher since 1959. He continued to lead a Bible Study after moving to Brookedale Senior Living Center. Westbury friends report that H T served on virtually every committee and chaired most. He was a member of every pulpit search committee until the current one. He was passionate about sharing his faith. He was a confidant and friend to all his pastors, an ardent prayer warrior, a mentor and encourager of others, and a really good listener. Hank believed in miracles. He believed that God healed his friend Leo McDonald. He ministered to the bereaved, ill, and aging. He sang joyfully in the church choir and at Creek Bend Apartments. He assisted the community of Bethel Church in Stafford. He volunteered on mission trips to Guadalajara, Mexico and to Brazil. He served on the Board of San Marcos Baptist Academy and was instrumental in the development of Camp Tejas. Carol Albers, a dear friend, described H T, “Hank” as “the heart and soul of Westbury.” Ken Kipp related that some times when he heard people say, “WWJD” (What would Jesus Do?), he thought “WWHD” (What would Hank do?) H T enjoyed people of all ages. As a youth sponsor, H T and Ron Lowry executed the scariest of all Halloween truck rides. On a youth trip to Six Flags, when the boys started a water gun “fight”, H T countered by dumping a hotel garbage bucket of water from the balcony on to the unsuspecting kids below. He enjoyed bowling, jogging, and especially “boys only” ski trips, hunting trips, fishing trips, and golf. Ken Kipp asked him one day, “How’s your golf game?” H T answered, “I am shooting in the 70’s and 80’s. If it gets any hotter than that I don’t play!” The Misers enjoyed Fall Foliage trips, Williamsburg trips and various other travels with dear friends throughout the years. H T Miser was a dedicated family man. Having raised their own four children, Marie and H T welcomed Todd and Tracy, their nephews, into their home for a time. He loved his precious Marie every day of their lives together. Each day he woke early for private devotions and then prepared breakfast for his family or for Marie and himself after the children were grown. He also wrote some type of love note to Marie every day of his married life on a scrap of paper, a napkin, in a letter, card, or fax. When on an international trip, he composed travel log type letters recounting the people, fashion, architecture, food, weather, and culture of whatever country he visited, so that Marie and his family could share his experiences. H T loved beautiful things and often returned from traveling with treasures for Marie and his family. As the four children went to school and married, he wrote letters and called, often at 6:00 am. Many times he arranged his travels to include dropping in on members of his family throughout the United States. As a father, he always encouraged and mentored, but never interfered. A favorite motto was, “Fall forward!” (We all fall or make mistakes, but learn and move on.) H T and Marie orchestrated elaborate family holidays and feasts. Both thoroughly enjoyed all holidays, especially Christmas in Houston, Fourth of July in Weimar, Easter in Austin, and many, many family meals. H T was the master of hush puppy and fish fry feasts. He was the best salad maker. H T loved to laugh and to have fun. When Becky Parkman asked her Daddy what he would like to have inscribed on his tombstone, he replied, “He was fun while he lasted!” H T Miser is survived by his children: Don Mark Miser and wife June, Donna Marie Asbill, Robert Vincent Miser and wife Peggy, Rebecca Jane Parkman and husband Larry; 13 grandchildren, Dawn Elizabeth Greiner and husband Michael, William Todd Anderson and wife Monique, Virginia Marie Peach and husband David, Allison Jane Atlas and husband Michael, Lauren Hayward and husband David, Mark Miser and wife Judi, James Scott Parkman and wife Lisa, Amy Katherine Sweet and husband Wes, Grant Parkman and wife Amy, Anne-Marie Kapoor and husband Ravi, Matthew Thomas Miser and wife Melissa, Rebecca Carol Miser and spouse Madelyn, Timothy Christopher Miser and wife Kelly; and 27 great- grandchildren, David Glen Hugh Hayward, Kirsten Ann Hayward, Colton Robert Peach, Kyle Andrew Peach, Caleb Lane Peach, Brenna Avery Atlas, Ian Michael Atlas, Henry Thomas Miser, Molly Lynn Miser, Rowan Mark Miser, Sophia Emory Anderson, William Anderson, Ella Kate Sweet, Molly Claire Sweet, Ruby Grace Sweet, Jacob Stanley Parkman, Beau Walker Parkman, Mary Margaret Parkman, Adison Elizabeth Miser, Arjun Paul Kapoor, Ashwin James Kapoor, Amari Elizabeth Kapoor, Violet May Miser, Ava Pearl Miser, Ari James Salter-Miser, Asher Malone Salter-Miser and expecting Emerson Jaymes Miser in December. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that gifts be made to Extreme Team,@ East- West Ministries International.