With a smile that lit up every room that she entered, Susan Sampson Howlett, 70, is now smiling and dancing in heaven, having passed away peacefully on June 19, 2016. After a short-lived battle with esophageal cancer, Susan died in her sleep, wrapped up in the arms of her daughter and best friend, Shelly Sampson Thomas, and holding hands with her beloved husband, Fred Howlett, and loving son, Lance Lubel, listening to her favorite Broadway tunes.

Susan was born and raised in Beaumont, Texas, where everyone knew or knew of Susan. From high school homecoming queen to Lamar University head cheerleader, Susan was a born leader. With well over two decades of service to the State of Texas, Susan dedicated her energy to helping others, whether it was serving the Texas Real Estate Broker Lawyer Committee, working at the Texas Auto Burglary and Theft Prevention Authority or serving in the Texas Attorney General’s Child Support Enforcement office. The Attorney General’s office is where her adoring husband, Fred, knew the first time he met Susan that he would marry her.

Susan was one of a kind. With her staple greeting “Hey Baby”, Susan never, ever met a stranger. She loved everyone and everyone loved her. Above all, she adored her family. She couldn’t have been prouder of her children, Lance and Shelly, and loved to brag to anyone who would listen about her granddaughter, Caroline Lubel, now a sophomore at Texas Tech University. She was as close as any sibling can be with her big brother, Dr. Jimmy Simmons, now retired President of Lamar University, and his wife, Susan Simmons, with whom she shared a lifetime of laughter and love.

In addition to Fred, Lance, Shelly, Caroline, Jimmy and Susan Simmons, Susan is survived by an adoring extended family, including her daughter-in-law, Kim Lubel; son-in-law, Tracey Thomas; sister, Susan Trimble; niece, Jennifer Lehane and her family; nephews, Mike Simmons and Matt Simmons and their families; stepson Fred Howlett Jr.; brother-in-law, Aaron Heifetz; nephew, Andy Heifetz and his family; and countless loving friends near and far.

Susan is celebrating in heaven now with her parents; and her younger sister, Ann.

The family wishes to thank all that cared for her during her short time at St. David’s South of Austin. Their tender care was a gift to Susan and to her family during her illness.

Words cannot adequately express how deeply she will be missed by her family and friends.

A gathering of Susan’s family and friends will begin at 3:30 p.m., with her memorial service to follow at 4:30 p.m., on her birthday, Saturday, July 30, 2016, at Broussard’s, 2000 McFaddin Avenue, Beaumont. Susan would have been 71, and still dancing.

In lieu of flowers, memorials made in Susan’s honor may be directed to the Julie Rogers “Gift of Life” Program, 2390 Dowlen Road, Beaumont, Texas 77706 or online at giftoflifebmt.org/donate.