Howell "Howie" Burnett Payne Jr.

Howell “Howie” Burnett Payne Jr. was born in Hobbs, New Mexico on May 4, 1935 to Lelia and Howell Payne, Sr. He grew up in Shreveport, LA and attended St. John High School where he played the trombone and was the valedictorian. He graduated from LSU in Baton Rouge earning a degree in Chemical Engineering and went on to work at Exxon Chemical in Baytown, Texas. His career brought him to New Jersey, Baton Rouge, and Houston. At Exxon he was known not only for his technical knowledge and skill as a chemical engineer, but also as a great coworker who would lend a hand on any project to support the team. After 41 successful years he retired from Exxon in May 1997. During retirement Howell spent time traveling, volunteering at his church, mowing the lawn, practicing his photography skills and repairing any appliance, car, or object that needed to be fixed!

Howell was a loving grandfather to his grandchildren. Each one of them recognized that their grandfather was truly one of a kind. His gentle spirit and joyful personality led to his being referred to as “Best Granddaddy Ever” and was a true role model in every way.

Howell was a friend to everyone. He was smart, kind, spiritual and so much more. His strong faith dictated the way he led his life serving our Lord and anyone he met in his path. He believed strongly in the power of the Holy Spirit and talked about his faith often with his children and grandchildren.

He had a passion for animals and in his later years would watch Animal Planet for hours on end smiling the entire time. He loved and cared for many dogs over his 88 years including several dachshunds and a beautiful basset hound named Gigi.

Howell is survived by his wife of 64 years, Anne Mathieu Payne; daughters Cynthia Lynch, Valerie Engel (Greg), and son Steve Payne (Tracy). Grandchildren Sandy Lynch, Taylor Engel, Kyle Engel, and Colton Payne. He is preceded in death by his granddaughter, Stephanie Lynch.

A Funeral Mass will commence Monday, March 4, 2024 at 10:30 AM at St. John Vianney Catholic Church, 625 Nottingham Oaks Trail, Houston, TX 77079. A reception will follow the mass on the church grounds. Interment services will follow the reception at Forest Park Westheimer Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the Alzheimer’s foundation (alzfdn.org).