Paula Morris Howat, a mother, grandmother, professor, teacher, researcher and mentor, passed away Friday, April 4, 2025.
Born in 1939, at Green Bank, she was a daughter of the late Ruby and Paul Morris.
Paula graduated from Huntington East High School and Marshall University. She continued her education at Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina; the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; and Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, where she earned a PhD in Nutrition and became a Registered Dietitian. She practiced clinical dietetics in hospitals and other healthcare facilities for 10 years including Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina; Harvard University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts; Lankenau Medical Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; then re-routed her professional interests to the university level in teaching and research. She taught and conducted research at Mississippi State University in Starkville, and moved further south where she was a tenured professor teaching and conducting research and, after 25 years, retired as a Professor of Nutrition in the School of Human Ecology at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge.
Paula published more than 50 research papers and wrote a book composed of newly developed as well as modified traditional recipes. The book, published in 1998, was designed for healthy eating. The need for such a book, presented in an understandable, realistic manner was a reflection of her years of clinical work.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a brother, Robert Lee Morris; sister, Harolyn June Morris; and stepfather, Russell Hogg.
Paula is survived by a wonderful daughter, Heidi Ann Howat Wendt; a great son-in-law, Thaddeus Wendt; and two beautiful, wonderful grandchildren, Grayson Paul Wendt and Shelby Grace Wendt.
Since Paula invested most of her life in the field of health, she donated her remains to the LSU School of Medicine in New Orleans for the education of future physicians.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to any of the following: Eating Disorders Research and Treatment; The National Kidney Foundation; The Heart Association; or The Arthritis Foundation of Louisiana.
The family would like to thank the following for the excellent care they provided for Paula throughout her later years, weeks and days: Ochsner Health; Fresenius Baker; The Hospice of Baton Rouge Butterfly Wing; and especially her caregiver, Michele Berthier.
A Celebration of Life honoring Paula Morris Howat was held Thursday, May 15, 2025, at Blackwater United Methodist Church in Baker, Louisiana.
Those attending were encouraged to wear her favorite color, LSU purple and remember her favorite bible verse, Psalm 23.
