Carl Gustav Mueller Jr.

Carl G. Mueller, Jr., age 82, died peacefully at his home, on Tuesday, the 27th of December 2011. Carl was born on the 30th of June 1929, in Houston, Texas, to Carl and Louise Mueller. He attended Fannin Elementary, Lanier Junior High, and Lamar High School, where he was a multiple-year, two-team starting player for the Redskins varsity football team, but most importantly, where he met and fell in love with his wife of 61 years, Joanne. Carl attended The University of Texas as a proud member of Kappa Sigma, and received his Doctor of Jurisprudence from The University of Texas Law School in 1953, where he was an editor of the Law Review. He practiced law with the firm of Butler & Binion for 33 years, then continued in private practice until his retirement in 1998.

A long-time member of St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, he was an active member and teacher in the Hines Baker Men’s Bible Class for over 40 years, before joining the Randy Smith Bible Study Class. He served the church in many leadership roles, including Chairman of the Finance and Long-Range Planning Committees; Chairman of the Board of Stewards; and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the St. Luke’s Methodist Church Foundation. He and his wife, Joanne, were recipients of St. Luke’s Distinguished Life Award.

During his years as a practicing attorney, he was a member of the Houston, Texas, and American Bar Associations; Houston Estate and Financial Forum, of which he was its first chairman in 1961-1962; Fellow, American College of Probate Counsel; American College Real Estate Lawyers; American College Mortgage Attorneys; Houston Real Estate Lawyers Counsel; and Texas Academy of Real Estate Lawyers. Carl was board certified in the fields of estate planning and probate law, commercial real estate law, residential real estate law, and farm and ranch real estate law, and he was admired and respected by his peers. He was active on the Board of Directors of the Retina Research Foundation, where he served as trustee, director, and secretary; was a past trustee of the Good Samaritan Foundation; served on the Board of Directors of Student Aid Foundation Enterprises; and was a Trustee of the M. D. Matthews Foundation.

A man of deep abiding faith, Carl loved and served his Lord. He was an avid saltwater fisherman, handball player, and jogger. He adored his family, and was immensely proud of his grandchildren, with whom he traveled, fished, and enjoyed a variety of activities, especially as an enthusiastic spectator and supporter with Joanne at their many baseball and softball games. Carl supported home college football teams and attended numerous games with son Clint as an Owls and Cougars season ticket holder. He loved flying with son Craig and meeting regularly with him for breakfast, and he spent countless hours on and in the waters of Galveston and Matagorda Bays with son Bob, dear friends, and Captain Charlie P., who constantly tried to keep him in line, and in fish. He and Joanne loved their travels to over 50 countries, almost always in the company of good friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, the late Louise Y. and Carl G. Mueller. Carl is survived by wife, Joanne Youngblood Mueller; three sons: Clint, Craig, and Bob and his wife Michelle; grandchildren, Kathryn Elizabeth, Carl McNeely, and Jennifer Michelle; sister-in-law, Jean Y. Swenson; nieces, nephews, and many dear and treasured friends.

Friends are cordially invited to gather with the family and share remembrances of Carl from five o’clock in the afternoon until eight o’clock in the evening on Monday, the 2nd January, in the Grand Foyer of Geo. H. Lewis and Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston.

The memorial service is to be conducted at eleven o’clock in the morning on Tuesday, the 3rd of January, in the Sanctuary of St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, 3471 Westheimer Road in Houston, where Dr. Tom Pace, Senior Pastor, is to officiate. Immediately following, all are invited to greet the family during a reception in the adjacent Fellowship Hall.

Serving as honorary pallbearers are Robert J. Lamonte, C.R. Gregg, Ed Stary, Joe Eason, Lee M. Duggan, Dr. Don H. Nowlin, and Dr. James W. Moore.

At a later date, the family is to gather for a private interment service at Glenwood Cemetery in Houston.

In lieu of customary remembrances, contributions in his memory may be made to St. Luke’s Methodist Church Foundation, P.O. Box 22013, Houston, TX, 77227-2013; Retina Research Foundation, 1977 Butler Blvd., Houston, TX, 77030-4101; or to the charity of one’s choice.