Paula Howat

PAULA MORRIS HOWAT, a mother, grandmother, professor, teacher, researcher, and mentor, passed away on April 4, 2025. Paula was a native of West Virginia, daughter of Ruby and Paul Morris, born in 1939 in Greenbank, WV in Pocahontas County. She graduated from Huntington East High School and Marshall University in Huntington, WV. She continued her education at Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC; the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, and Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 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, NC, Harvard University School of Public Health, Boston, MA; Lankenau Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA; then re-routed her professional interests to the university level in teaching and research. She taught and conducted research at Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS and moved further south where she was a tenured professor teaching, 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, LA.
She 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 Dr. Howat's years of clinical work.
Paula is survived by a wonderful daughter, Heidi Ann Howat Wendt, a great son-in-law, Thaddeus Wendt, and 2 beautiful, wonderful grandchildren, a grandson, Grayson Paul Wendt and a grand-daughter, Shelby Grace Wendt.
Paula was preceded in death by her immediate family consisting of her mother, Ruby Waddell Morris Hogg, her father Paul Anderson Morris, a brother Robert Lee Morris, a sister Harolyn June Morris, and a step-father, Russell Hogg.
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 & Treatment; The National Kidney Foundation; The Heart Association; or the The Arthritis Foundation of Louisiana.
The family would like to thank the following for the excellent care they provided for Paula throughout her latter 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 is being held Thursday, May 15 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Blackwater United Methodist Church, 10000 Blackwater Road, Baker, Louisiana.
Those attending are encouraged to wear her favorite color, LSU purple & remember her favorite bible verse, Psalm 23.