Howard Barbour Ii

Howard Nolan Barbour II, known to all who loved him as Howdy, died peacefully, surrounded by his family, on April 26, at 9:15 pm, at the Brazos Valley Hospice Inpatient Facility in Bryan, TX.

Funeral services are scheduled for 2 p.m., Saturday, April 29, 2017 at Memorial Oaks Chapel, with Pastor Mark Groves officiating. Burial will follow in Prairie Lea Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 6 until 8 p.m. Friday evening at Memorial Oaks Chapel.

Howdy is preceded in death by his daughter, Hattie. He is survived by his wife, Lou-Lou Barbour, daughter Michelle, son Jesse, and daughter-in-law, Erica, and daughters Rebecca, and Mary Barbour, as well as granddaughters Hattie and Lily Barbour.

Howdy was born on June 29, 1948 in Logansport, Indiana. He grew up in Logansport with his Mother, Mary June, stepfather, Norman Barbour and 4 brothers; Bobby, Lee, Jimmy, and Scotty.

When Howdy reached 18 years of age he enlisted in the United States Army and served one tour of duty in Vietnam, where he was stationed at Tay Ninh City in 1968/1969. After coming home from Vietnam, Howdy married his first wife, Shirley Torok, and together they had a daughter, Michelle. Later he married Lou-Lou Willis, and together they had 4 children: Jesse, Hattie, Rebecca, and Mary.

Howdy held many jobs throughout his life, one of them being an automotive mechanic and body man. He owned his own business, "Barbour's Garage," in Brenham, TX for 14 years.

Howdy earned his nursing degree from the University of Texas Medical Branch in 1995 and worked in the emergency room at Ben Taub Hospital in Houston for one year. He then went back to school and earned his master's degree from the University of Texas Medical Branch to become a nurse practitioner, working in various emergency rooms in the local Texas area, as well as at his own clinic, Neighborhood Minor Care Clinic, and at the prison unit in Navasota, Texas.

Howdy was a lifelong musician. His greatest musical accomplishment was mastering the bluegrass style on the resonater (dobro) guitar. He loved playing his Scheerhorn dobro and performing and jamming with his wife, Lou-Lou, friends, and family.

He had many hobbies in his life and excelled at them all. He designed and helped build the house where he and Lou-Lou lived and raised their family. The last hobby that Howdy took up was bee keeping, and he enthusiastically bought and set up a bee hive on the back of his property.

Howdy's greatest love was his family and he devoted his life to caring for them and spending time with them. He was overjoyed to be blessed with 2 granddaughters, Hattie and Lily, in the last years of his life and spent countless hours playing with and loving them. Howdy was also blessed to be reunited with his daughter, Michelle, in the latter part of his life, and enjoyed some great times with her.

Howdy was a Christian, and a friend of Bill W. since 1983. He was so thankful to God for giving him his life, and allowing him to be a father to his kids, a grandfather to Hattie and Lily, and a loving husband to Lou-Lou.

Memorials may be directed to the American Cancer Society or to Hospice Brazos Valley.

Funeral arrangements for Howard Barbour are entrusted to Memorial Oaks Chapel, 1306 W. Main, Brenham. To post a tribute to the family, visit www.memorialoakschapel.com.

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