Duane Howard

Walter Duane Howard peacefully continued his journey at home, on February 7, 2016, at the age of 84. His funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 9, at the University Church of Christ in Canyon with David Lough, minister, presiding. Burial will follow at Dreamland Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Monday, February 8, 2016 at 2408 10th Avenue in Canyon. Duane was born at home on November 26, 1931, adjacent to the creek just south of Lelia Lake, Texas. Dr. Jenkins traveled from Clarendon early that morning and remained during the afternoon until Duane finally arrived. Duane attended school in Lelia Lake through the first grade when the family moved to Amarillo in 1936. After living in Amarillo for a number of years and attending Sam Houston Junior High, the family moved to Canyon in 1946, at which time he first met Betty Ross Craig. From the fall of 1946 to the spring of 1950, Duane attended Canyon High School, and served as Class President his Sophomore and Junior years. As a student at Canyon High, Duane was a member of the Canyon Future Farmers of America. He showed pigs in the very first Randall County Junior Livestock Show in 1948 and became a State Farmer his third year in the FFA. He later became a member of the Livestock Association and for years volunteered many hours of service as it's Board President and Secretary/Treasurer. Duane graduated from Canyon's West Texas High School in the summer of 1950. He was a member of the last class to graduate from West Texas High. He married Betty on July 13, 1953. Duane was enrolled at West Texas State College from 1950 to 1954 earning a BBA in 1954. He later returned to WT in 1965 to perform graduate assistant teaching and received his MBA in 1966. He furthered his education with 24 hours of Doctorate level courses from Texas Tech and the University of North Texas. Duane was employed in the Division Office for Phillips Petroleum in Amarillo, when beginning in June of 1959, established, owned and operated the Credit Bureau of Canyon, which also included a bookkeeping and tax service, general insurance agency and real estate office. In the 1950's and 60's he was a member of the Canyon Rotary Club, where he served several years as a Board member and its Treasurer. Duane was a long-time member of the Canyon Country Club, and served many years on its Board and as the Club Secretary. He was Chairman of the local "March of Dimes" and served as its Director in 1960. He was a member of the Canyon Chamber of Commerce, the Canyon Association of Insurance Agents, the Associated Credit Bureaus of Texas, the Associated Credit Bureaus of America and the Retail Merchants of Texas. During the late 60's, Duane was employed by the American National Bank of Amarillo as its Auditor. Spanning the 70's, 80's and 90's, he taught business classes at Amarillo College and retired there in 1995, having served most of 20 years as the Director of Financial Aid. During these years he was a member of the Texas Bankers Association, the American Bankers Association, Texas State Teachers Association, Texas Association of Financial Aid Administrators and the American Association of Financial Aid Administrators. Duane was one of the grassroots members who worked to establish the Panhandle-Plains Higher Education Authority, a secondary market for student loans. He served on its Board for 25 years, many of those as its Secretary. Following retirement from Amarillo College, he continued to work part-time as a school lender servicer and university relations coordinator for Panhandle Plains Higher Education Authority, developing colleges and universities across the state. Since 1946, he has been an active member of the University Church of Christ in Canyon, serving many years as a Deacon and performing the accounting duties for the congregation. Duane will always be remembered as a faithful servant in the Lord's Kingdom. He lived his faith. He was preceded in death by his parents, B. L. and Sybil (Chenault) Howard and his brother, Carol Howard and a nephew, Kris Howard. The family wishes to thank Dr. Lawrence "Larry" McAfee for his "extra mile" as the family physician. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Betty Ross (Craig) Howard of Canyon, one son, Craig Howard and wife Jane of Amarillo, and one grandson, Heath Howard of Amarillo. If your life has been influenced for good by Duane, the family encourages any memorials be named in his honor and directed to High Plains Children's Home and Family Services, Inc., 11461 S. Western Street, Amarillo, Texas, 79118.