Mr. John Michel Houston

JOHN MICHEL HOUSTON born November 10, 1948, was called home by his Heavenly Father on November 14, 2022. He was a man of great faith and could see the presence of the Lord in many people and things. He was a longtime resident of Coosada, Alabama. He felt His presence strongly in walks the woods and often said Coosada was “Heaven on Earth.” Now he will get to celebrate in a “dwelling provided by God, a dwelling in the heavens not made by hands but to last forever.” A true Paradise. How appropriate that he would be called Home in this season of gratitude as those of us who knew him will be eternally grateful to have had him as a husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, cousin, and friend. He earned his B.A. from Auburn University and M.A. and M.S.W. degrees from the University of Alabama, His heart remained on the Plains. John was a quiet, gentle, calm man until it came to Auburn football. Orange and Blue Christmas trees, dinnerware, clothes, signed footballs, framed pictures of coaches, games, Eagles. You name it. He liked it. He shared that passion with his family, indoctrinating our children at an early age producing two Auburn graduates. Some of our best times were spent at Auburn. War Eagle, my love. He spent his life’s work serving others. He began his almost forty years’ career in mental health services as a Patient Advocate at Bryce Hospital and ended as Commissioner of Alabama Department of Mental Health, serving from 2005–2011. He was a longtime leader in advocacy for children’s services. He was instrumental in the drafting and passing of state legislation promoting services for infants and toddlers with disabilities and interagency collaborative services for multiple needs children. He touched the lives of thousands, always striving to make it better. However, he considered his greatest accomplishment to be a loving husband, father and “Pop Pop”. He was preceded in death by his father Leonard Preston Houston, his mother Mathilda Rives Houston, oldest brother and his sister-in-law Frank and Mildred Houston, his middle brother Robert Preston Houston, and his niece Frances “Fran” Houston. He is survived by his beloved wife of thirty-seven years Rita Gonzalez Houston; his children: daughter Lauren Houston Woller (Joey) and his son John Preston Houston; his precious grand-daughters Emilia and Abigail; his brothers-in-law: Luis Gonzalez (Ginga) and Jose Gonzalez,( Polyanna); his sisters-in-law: Kate Houston, Maria Wiggins (Donnie), and Chichi Estes (Edward); his seven nephews: Jim and Steve Houston, Ted Houston, Michael Lockridge, Jason and Blain Lindsey, and Cory Gonzalez; his four nieces: Jennifer Lockridge, Lisa Stevens, Carla Costa, Katherine Ray; and ten great-nephews, nine great-nieces and twenty-three cousins. A special thank you to Dr. Sarah Conners, Amedisys Home Health, and Southern Care New Beacon Hospice for their kindness in helping care for John. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Southern Care New Beacon Hospice Hope Foundation, National Alliance on Mental Illness (“NAMI”), PEOPLE FIRST AND THE ARC of Alabama, Tallassee First Baptist Church’s Carpenters for Christ program, Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services’ (“ADRS”) Independent Living program, or Lewy Body Dementia of the American Brain Foundation. Visitation will be at Saint Peters Church, 219 Adams Avenue, Montgomery, Alabama on Saturday, November 19, 2022, from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. A memorial service will follow at 2:00 p.m. Brookside Funeral Home, Crematorium & Memorial Gardens of Millbrook, AL directing.