TYGRETT JR., HOWARD VOLNEY (1940 ~ 2015). The following is an obituary for Howard Tygrett, former 86th District Court judge. The obituary was provided by Max Slayton Funeral Home of Terrell.
Retired Honorable District Judge, Howard Volney Tygrett, Jr. passed away on November 18, 2015 at the age of 75.
Judge Tygrett will be remembered for his commitment to law and justice, brilliant mind, solid, calm demeanor, stories he told, sense of humor, and as a devoted and loving husband, father, and grandfather.
Howard Volney Tygrett, Jr. was born in Lake Charles Louisiana on January 12, 1940. He was the only child of Hazel and Howard (Tyg) Volney Tygrett Sr. and spent his formative years in Dallas, Texas. He graduated from St. Mark's School of Texas in 1957. He braved the cold and traveled to the East for college, graduating from Williams College, in Williamstown, Massachusetts in 1961. He often sported a sweatshirt with the Purple Cow, Ephs and William's logo on weekends throughout his life. Through the years, Howard enjoyed reunions with alumni from both St Mark's and Williams. He was especially glad so many St Mark's classmen joined him at a retirement party, barely a year ago at Bud Miller's home.
Howard attended Law School at Southern Methodist University. He graduated in the top 10% of his class in 1964. After graduating, Howard worked for the General Attorney U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Howard served as Law Clerk to Joe E. Estes, Chief Judge, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas. Judge Estes became a lifelong friend and mentor. After clerking for Judge Estes, Howard practiced law for more than 30 years, on the 7th floor of what was then known as Preston State Bank Building in Preston Center.
Howard was elected 86th District Judge (Kaufman County) in November 2002. He will be remembered as the first Republican district judge elected in Kaufman County since Reconstruction. Howard was re-elected in November of 2006 and again in 2010. He served until retirement at the end of December 2014. Howard was in office in January 2013, when Mark Hasse, Chief Assistant District Attorney for the Kaufman County and Kaufman County Criminal District Attorney Michael "Mike" McClelland and his wife Cynthia, were killed. Though deeply saddened by the death of his colleagues, Howard was determined to proceed with business as usual at the courthouse, never wavering from carrying out duties of his elected position. Judge Tygrett will be remembered as unfailingly fair, a good listener, kind, approachable and knowledgeable. Those who came before Judge Tygrett's bench were treated with dignity, regardless of life circumstances. Honorable Judge Howard Tygrett remained grateful to the people of Kaufman County for allowing him to serve them.
Howard was a member of Good Shepherd Episcopal Church and a former senior warden of the Vestry. He was a member of Rotary International, Lions International, Terrell Heritage Society Board, and Dallas Center for the Developmentally Disabled Board President. He was a member of Civitan International for many years in which he held many leadership positions.
Howard is preceded in death by his parents, Howard Volney Tygrett Sr and Hazel Wheeler Tygrett, and his son Howard Volney Tygrett III (Trey). He is survived by his wife of 25 years, Linda Lee Tygrett; daughter, Carroll Tygrett Bellingrath, and husband Edward; daughter-in-law, Amy Ormes Tygrett; grandchildren, Virginia Catherine Bellingrath, John Howard Bellingrath, Alice Elizabeth Tygrett, Howard Volney Tygrett IV (Ty); stepdaughter, Denise Cason, and husband, Patrick Cason; Bob Burton, stepson, and wife, Carrie Burton, grandchildren, Austin McConnell Cason and Ashton LaCour Cason, Robert Chase Burton III and Andrew Richard Burton; Godson Robert Jenkins Franklin and an uncountable number of blended family members and friends who have been and will continue to be influenced by his life.
A memorial service will be held at Good Shepherd Episcopal Church in Terrell at 2:00pm, Monday, November 23, 2015 at Good Shepherd Episcopal Church, 200 W. College St., Terrell, Texas, 75160.
Judge Tygrett will be interred at Texas State Cemetery in Austin, Texas at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks for memorial contributions to be made in memory of Howard V. Tygrett, Jr. to St. Mark's School of Texas, Williams College or Good Shepherd Episcopal Church, Terrell.
Follow Us