Bill Haught

Bill Haught, 82, passed away January 28th, 2011, surrounded by his family, at his home in Magnolia, Texas. He was born July 12th, 1928 in Hamilton, Texas. Bil is preceeded in death by his mother Lena Shipman Harris; father Dailey B. Haught and step-mother Iremeter Haught. He is survived by his wife of 62 years Theresa; children Bonnie Link & husband Darwin, David Haught & wife Bay, Susan Mathews & husband Larry, and Betty Driskill & husband Tommy; grandchildren Caryl McBroom & husband Cliff, Karyn Curtis & husband Robbie, Krystal Garza & husband Gabriel, Amanda Sieja & husband Michael, Christopher Haught & wife Kelly, Blake Mathews & wife Krista, Ashley Mathews, Megan Meier & husband Russell, Emily Dykes & husband Ryan; and great-grandchildren Cheyann and Haden McBroom, Kamryn Curtis, David, Allison, and Wyatt Sieja, Emma and Holden Garza, Lucy Mathews, Cole Meier.

Special Thanks to his loving caregivers Kathleen Meeks and Brenda Slabe.

Bill was a 40 year employee of Baker Oil Tools. He served his community as a School Board Member of Spring ISD as well as the Athletic, Band Booster and Tri-Clubs. He was a multiple term Board of Trustees member for the North Harris County Community College (Lone Star Community College). He was an original member of St. Edward's Catholic Church where he was a Eucharistic minister and lector. He served his country as a Corporal in the U.S. Marine Corps.

Visitation will be held from 4:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M., Monday Jaunary 31st, 2011 with a Rosary service at 7:00 P.M. in the Chapel at Foest Park the Woodlands Funeral Home. A Mass of Christian Burial is set for 10:00 A.M., Tuesday, February 1st, 2011 at St. Edward Catholic Community, 2601 Spring Steubner Rd., Spring Texas 77389. A Graveside Service will follow in St. Stanislaus Catholic Cemetery in Chappell Hill, Texas at 12:30 P.M.

In Lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Alzhimer's Foundation of America (http://www,alzfdn.org/) in recognition of his fight with Vascular Dementia. To sign the guest book or offer your memories of Bill to the family, please visit www.forestparkthewoodlands.com.

STORY OF BILL HAUGHT'S LIFE

Some called him Dad, others called him Grandpaw or Peepaw, a few called him Mr. B. or Mr. Bill, and many called him Billy Ray or Bill, but to all he was a man of God, a man of a loving family, a man of his community and country and a man of many friends.

Born July 12, 1928 as Billy Ray Haught in Hamilton, Texas to Dailey and Lena Haught, he was a child of the depression period and for a short period of time, his family lived in an abandoned train car. At the age of 4, he was raised along with his brother, Alva Dean, by his father who worked on the railroad. Shortly thereafter, Dailey married Iremeter, and he settled into a normal family pattern in Josephine, Texas. Helping the family with finances, he worked planting onions and in the cotton gin until he entered the Marine Corp at age 17.

He grew into a man in the Marine Corp using his typing and organization skills to earn his way to the rank of Corporal. Stationed in Camp Pendleton, he lived the California lifestyle riding the highways and hillsides on his Indian motorcycle. Upon leaving the Marine Corp he moved to Brenham, Texas and attended Blinn College while working at the local movie theatre. It was at the City Diner in Brenham that he met and soon married a beautiful waitress named Theresa. And the rest of his life is “all because two people met and fell in love.”

Living in Brenham the first year of their marriage, they wasted no time in having Bonnie Jeanne in 1951. After moving to Magnolia Gardens near east Houston, off the ship channel, David Ray was born in 1954. Bill worked at Baker Oil Tools during the days and at Brown Express on some evenings with his new friend, Henry McCoy. For entertainment, Henry and Bill had “typing races”. Henry and Bill stayed friends their entire lives.

They were soon able to afford their first home on Arvana Steet in South Houston where Susan Marie was born in 1956 followed “quickly” by Betty Jo in 1957 (they were 15 months apart). They were soon transferred by Baker Oil Tools to Los Angeles, California where they lived close to his favorite Uncle George Shipman, his wife Anne and their three (3) daughters. They only lived there for 1 years but the families generated relationships that grew and stay strong to this day as seen by two (2) of George’s daughters in today audience, DeeDee Myers and her husband Ron, and Debi Sheets and her fiancé Dave Brundage. Bill continued to work at Baker Oil Tools in the export department, shipping, accounts payable, a manager of North American Customer Service, Fleet Manager, and then as assistant to the Vice President of Marketing where he earned the nickname “BOTI-gram Bill” which stood for Baker Oil Tool, Inc. Gram since he was responsible for creating many of the field procedures that are still in place today. He retired with honor after 40 years of service.

Moving back to the Houston area, they built their Dream Home in Bammel Forest in Spring, Texas where they set roots and called home. At that time Spring had only 1 elementary school and a combined junior high/ high school, but on the verge of a population explosion in the late 60’s and early 70’s. In the face of aggressive land owners, Bill worked with other committed citizens to pass large school bonds that allowed the school district to grow into one of the better school districts in Texas, and afforded his children the benefit of attending. During this period of time Bill was actively involved in the band Booster Club, The Athletic Booster Club and the Tri-Club. Bill and Theresa burned up the roads making EVERY football game, basketball game, baseball game, track meet or band contest their active children were involved in. He spent many evenings barbecuing and playing dominoes with other volunteers. His contributions increased as he was elected to the Spring ISD School Board for several terms.

In 1969 they purchased a 17’6” Glastron Tri-Hull ski boat. The family spent many Saturdays and Sundays on the lake enjoying each other. Every summer for a decade they would trek to the shore of Inks Lake and have a ski week. Waking up with the sun, they would ski and play board games all day, followed by Pictionary and charades at night.

His community service expanded as he joined others in campaigning for bonds to organize and develop North Harris County Junior College which grew and flourished into what is now the renowned Lone Star Junior College. It was not long before Bill was elected to and served several consecutive terms on the North Harris County Junior College Board of Trustees from 1977 - 1982.

Having converted to the Catholic Religion when he was married, Bill served as Eucharistic minister and lector for many years. His family was one of the original members of St. Edwards Catholic Church when Father Francis started it up in the cafeteria of Spring High School. Each Sunday the family would get to church early enough to help set chairs up, then stayed afterwards to put them back up. Even after moving to Magnolia, Bill and Theresa continued to drive back to St. Edwards Church for their church services while remaining friends with Father Francis.

Having four children attend a fine high school was not enough. He provided the support for all four (4) children to attend and graduate from college, with the three (3) girls becoming teachers and his son David following his footsteps in the business world. The family of six (6) quickly grew to ten (10) as each child got married. Then the growth continued as their children had children and the family grew to include 9 grandchildren. Bill and Theresa made every grandchild’s birthday, saw many school plays, soccer games and other activities and established the standard of what a true family really is. There was one Christmas where between making cookies, praline and peanut butter; Bill assembled 9 scooters for the grandchildren.

The grandchildren followed the tradition with high school and college graduations attended by Bill and Theresa. As the grandchildren married and began families of their own, the Haught family grew to 37 including 10 and 8/9 great-grandchildren (the 11th due in February).

Once standing as a proud Marine for the USA, standing proud when a new grandchild or great-grandchild was born, watching proudly as his children and grandchildren graduated from college....always proud to be of service to his church and community...now standing tall once again and proud to be a soldier of Christ.

And remember……all because two people fell in love.