Eugene Erwin Houts

Obituary of Eugene E. Houts Edinburg -Eugene Erwin Houts, 90, went to be with the Lord on the morning of March 18, 2021. He was the 7th of 8 children born to Earl E. Houts and Manilla Philippine (Schumacher) Houts on September 8, 1930. “Gene” as he was commonly known, attended Edinburg High School where he ran track and played football. He graduated in 1949 and joined the US Air Force. His training began at Lackland AFB in San Antonio, TX then continued at Lowery Air Force Base in Denver and England Air Force Base in Alexandria LA. After training he was posted in Chaumont, France. During that time received a citation for transfusing his blood to save the life of a young girl while stationed in South Africa. This began a lifelong dedication to donating blood. Gene had attained the rank of Staff Sergeant upon his discharge in 1954. His return to the US afforded him the opportunity to attend college at Texas A&I-Kingsville, Sul Ross State University-Alpine where he performed in a play with Dan Blocker (Bonanza’s, Hoss Cartwright). He returned to McCook/Edinburg area and completed his degree in Agriculture and Entomology at Pan American University. It was that very year of graduation that he met the love of his life, Marilyn Kaml. It was dancing that brought them together, love that kept them happy and probably more dancing that kept them sane. They were married on June 30th, 1955 at the First Christian Church in Edinburg TX. For almost 66 years they danced, raised their family, farmed, and ranched. In addition to his busy life farming, he was a Charter Member of the Board of Directors for Sharyland Water Supply Corporation. He also spent many years on the Edinburg Co-Op Board of Directors and was awarded the “Farmer of the Year” by the Hidalgo County Soil Conservation Service. He was a top salesman for DeKalb seed which earned him many rewards. There are numerous crops grown in our area today because of Gene. He was instrumental in bringing sesame seed as a crop to the Rio Grande Valley and for his innovative techniques for growing watermelons. The UTRGV CHAPS program has recently written a book about the Houts Farm. He loved teaching others about farming and about the various crops grown in this area. He even introduced farming techniques to ambassadors of several third world countries. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Edinburg. He was a man who genuinely loved the land he farmed, the cattle he raised and enjoyed hunting and fishing during his spare time. The strength of his character earned him many nicknames such as Daddy, Uncle Gene, Grandpa, Paw Paw, Mr. Mean Jeans, Judge Roy Gene, Eugenio Casas and Gene, Gene, the Love Machine. He was well known for his charismatic storytelling and jokes. No one had a better sense of humor nor were they ever bored while in his company. He was preceded in death by his parents Earl E. and Manilla Philippine (Schumacher) Houts; siblings, Margarite Houts, Denver Earl Houts, Emma Lou Houts, Earline (Houts) Davies, Ruby (Houts) Nolan, Bertie (Houts) Howard, granddaughter Tanya Michelle Houts and son-in-law Robert Bond. Left to mourn him are: his wife Marilyn; Eldest son, Mike (Karen) Houts, Kristen (Mark) Ray, Bryce Ray and Kate Ray, Kara (Kiel) Freeman, Kylie Freeman and Kason Freeman; Eldest daughter, Kim (Bob) Bond, Aaron Francis, Lacy Denson, Nicholas Denson and Jaclyn Denson, Alan (Roxanne) Bond, Nathan Bond and Sabrina Bond; Son, Jeff (Judy) Houts, Ryan (Lindsey Jo) Houts, Reagan Houts and Landon Houts, Lindsey (Rolando) Cavazos, Trey Cavazos and Madison Cavazos, Kyle Houts; Daughter, Gina (Houts) Childress, Brandon (Ashley) Tanner, Raylee Tanner and Mason Tanner, Garrett Tanner; and his last remaining sibling Dorothy (Ted) Blankenship of Wichita, KS. The family would like to give special thanks to the VA, Freedom Health Care, Amara Hospice and especially Elva Garza for her nurturing attention this past year. A Celebration of Life will be hosted by his family on Saturday, March 27, 2021, 4:00 p.m. at the family home, 515 N. McColl Rd., Edinburg, TX. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to: First United Methodist Church of Edinburg 3707 West University Edinburg, TX 78539-7782 Phone: 956/381-9806 Email: edinburgfirst@sbcglobal.net Web: www.edinburgfumc.org