Happy Howry, a 66-year-old white male, was reported missing from his home in Odessa, Texas, on April 25, 1982. He was last seen after attending church that Sunday. Howry had been a longtime resident of Odessa since 1950 and worked as a salesman at J.C. Penney Co. He was known in the community and was a member of the Sunset Heights Church of Christ.
His disappearance sparked concern among family and friends, and local authorities began investigating his whereabouts.
On May 6, 1982, Howry's decomposed body was discovered in a field in Big Spring, Texas, by two students from a nearby school for the deaf. The students had been chasing a roadrunner bird when they stumbled upon the remains. Investigators determined that the white male victim had been bludgeoned to death, and it was believed that the murder weapon was a tire iron taken from his own vehicle. The condition of the body suggested that he had been dead for several days, consistent with the timeline of his disappearance.
Despite efforts by law enforcement, including the involvement of Crime Stoppers and the establishment of a reward fund exceeding $2,500 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the perpetrator, no suspects were publicly identified in connection with the murder of Happy Howry. Authorities explored possible connections between Howry's death and other violent crimes in the Odessa area during that time, including the murder of Velma Nesset, a 65-year-old white female who also worked at the Permian Mall. However, police ultimately stated that they did not believe the two cases were related.
The investigation into Howry's death did not result in any arrests, and the case remained unresolved. The lack of leads and forensic evidence hindered progress, and the trail of clues eventually went cold. Friends and family continued to mourn the loss of the 66-year-old white male, whose life was cut short under tragic and violent circumstances. His funeral was held at Crescent Park Church of Christ in Odessa, and he was buried in Sunset Memorial Gardens.
