H.L. Mayes

H. L. "Buddy" Mayes, 83, of Houston passed away Friday afternoon, February 24, 2017 from complications of congestive heart failure and diabetes. Always a country boy at heart, Buddy was born on Feb 12, 1934 in Yoakum, Texas. He grew up on a ranch in Del Rio, competed in rodeos as a calf roper and graduated from Del Rio High School. He moved to Houston soon afterwards where he met and married his wife of 62 years, Barbara Roten, and began his career in the oil & gas industry as a petroleum inspector for Eastern States Petroleum Company, which later became Signal Oil and Gas and then Charter International Oil Company. Duty to country called and he spent 2 years in the US Army stationed at Fort Monmouth in New Jersey. After an honorable discharge, he and Barbara returned to Houston where he resumed his career in oil & gas, started a family & added a business degree from the University of Houston. He rose to the position of Vice-President of Crude Oil Procurement at Charter International Oil Company before taking the position of Trader in the Residual Fuels Department for Tauber Oil Company. Highly regarded for his ethics & great sense of humor, he cultivated some of his business & childhood relationships into lifelong friendships. In semi-retirement, Buddy enjoyed maintaining and hosting Tauber Oil Company's deer lease, creating a memorable experience for all who hunted there. He was an accomplished outdoorsman, proficient in fishing and hunting. His other favorite pastimes included golfing as a member of Riverside Country Club in Brazoria, where he had two hole-in-ones, bowling, working his cattle on his ranch near Hubbard, Texas and presiding over family meals as the Grill-Master. He loved animals and had numerous dogs, cats, horses and even a raccoon as pets. Buddy is preceded in death by his parents, William Earl Mayes and Maudie (Berger) Mayes Christian, and his daughter, Julie Mayes Faske. Survivors are his devoted wife of 62 years, Barbara (Roten) Mayes, daughter Laura Pearson and husband Warren, granddaughters Daniele White and Molly Anderson, grandsons Brian, Russell and Justin Faske, son-in law Kevin Faske and wife Heather of Sugar Land, brother William Earl "Shorty" Mayes Jr., niece Melinda Mayes and nephew William Earl "Bill" Mayes III, and his miniature schnauzer Sassy-Belle. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to Houston Hospice (1905 Holcombe Blvd, Houston, TX 77030), Citizens for Animal Protection (17555 Katy Freeway, Houston, Texas 77094) or charity of choice.