He was born on Aug. 28, 1947, at the family homestead near Humansville, Mo., to Walter Russell and Beulah Irene (Burchett) Houk. He attended school at Humansville and graduated from Humansville High School. He attended church growing up and was saved in May 1959 and later baptized in June.
He married Esther Jeanette Mann on June 17, 1967, at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church near El Dorado Springs, Mo. She survives of the home.
He worked for Mid America Dairyman his entire career until he retired in 1995. One of his proudest achievements of his career was the installation of an innovative dairy barn design. It was the first of its kind in the U.S. and received international recognition and created the opportunity to supervise the installation of the same design in Costa Rica.
He enjoyed fishing with his older grandson and enjoyed watching his grandchildren grow and their accomplishments. He was known for his beautiful woodworking skills. He was also an avid hunter and has hunted all types of game across the United States and Canada.
Other survivors include a son and daughter-in-law, Brent and Bonnie Houk of Girard; a daughter and son in-law, Christi and Jimmy Hay of Paola; six grandchildren, Logan and Morgan Houk, both of Girard, and Landen, Lily, Lawson and Lucy Hay, all of Paola; two brothers, James Houk of Bolivar, Mo., and Roy Houk of Stockton, Mo.; three sisters, Betty Daniels of Humansville, Mo., Helen Daniels of Stockton, Mo., and Sharon Jones of Odessa, Mo.; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, a niece and a nephew.
The service will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Erie Federated Church. Burial will be in Alder Cemetery near Stockton, Mo. Friends may call after 2 p.m. today at Pierce-Carson-Wall Funeral Home, Erie.
Memorials are suggested to the American Heart Association or to the American Diabetes Association and may be left at or mailed to the funeral home, P.O. Box 182, Erie, 66733.
Online condolences may be left at www.wallfuneralservices.com.
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