Antoine F. Houle, “Tony” to family and friends, passed away peacefully on Friday, March 22, 2024, after a valiant, years long fight with heart disease.
Tony was born on March 11, 1959, in Sarnia, Ontario. He always proclaimed he was a proud citizen of both the USA and Canada. He was the first-born son of Tony F. and Nancy J. (Gillette) Houle.
His family moved to Blaine when he was young, and his early years were spent exploring the lands of his family farm with his brothers and sister. He attended school and church at St. Edward on the Lake Catholic Church, where he developed a strong foundation in faith and forged close friendships that would last his lifetime.
Tony was a graduate of Port Huron Northern High School, Class of 1977. After high school, he earned an Associate of Arts Degree from Saint Clair County Community College before graduating from the University of Michigan with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in 1981. He continued his studies at the University of Detroit Law School, where he was granted a Juris Doctor Degree in May 1984. Tony was a proud member of both the Michigan State Bar Association and the St. Clair County Bar Association, the latter of which he served as an officer and as President.
Tony practiced law from 1984 to 2023. As he began his career, he joined the McIntosh, McColl, Allen, Carson, McNamee and Strickler Law firm. He greatly admired, and was grateful for, the training and mentoring he received from this group of lawyers, who would come to be some of his greatest friends as well. Tony went on to establish his own practice in downtown Port Huron, fulfilling a lifetime goal of his to own and run his own business, just as his father had, with his barber shop in Lakeport.
After a serendipitous re-connection, Tony married the love of his life, Mary Lynn Williams, on November 17, 1984. In the early years of their marriage, Tony and Mary discovered their love of travel together and began to build a close-knit network of friends who would be integral in the adventures that followed throughout Tony’s life.
Tony and Mary welcomed their daughter Delaney in 1994 and life took on a fuller, richer, and even more adventurous purpose. Years later, their family would be complete with the birth of their son, Braeden in 1997.
Tony’s passions in life were his family, first and foremost, the law, and golf (in that order!). He and his family enjoyed many years of travel together - highlights included Europe, tours around the western U.S, and many fond memories made at Walt Disney World. From swim meets to theater events, Tony was always devotedly present at his children's various activities. Often, it was to their chagrin, as he would also use the opportunity to find space to practice his golf swing, no matter the setting.
He will be missed beyond measure by his best friend and wife of 39 years, Mary Lynn Houle; his children, Delaney and Braeden Houle; his siblings, Gary (Cindy) Houle, Debbie (Don) Baker, Joe Houle and Tom (Kris) Houle; Mary’s family, Dave Williams, Julie Borowski ( Mike Stager) and Chris (Linda) Williams; his nieces and nephews, Amanda, Brittany, Cammie, Shelby (Kyle), Courtney (Karter), Sarah (Spencer), Jordyn, Ryan, Daniel, Seth, Tyler, Danielle, Evan, Brett (Trilla), Payton (Kate), Paige, Jake, and Grace. Tony was preceded in death by his parents, Tony and Nancy Houle; and his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Homer and Charlotte (Sloan) Williams.
Visitation will be held on Thursday, April 4, 2024 from 2-4 p.m. and 5-8 p.m. at Karrer-Simpson Funeral Home, 1720 Elk Street, Port Huron, Michigan.
A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, April 5, 2024 at Karrer-Simpson Funeral Home.
Tony will be forever missed by all who were fortunate enough to know him. His family takes comfort in knowing he was warmly greeted by many who have gone before him, including his parents, friends and family, and beloved family dogs, Daisy and Scout. To quote one of Tony’s favorite books, A Christmas Carol: “I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future!”
For anyone wishing to honor Tony’s memory, his family asks that you consider donations to the City of Port Huron Recreation Department or to the Port Huron Area School District for the Boys/Girls Swim Teams.
To send condolences, visit karrersimpson.com
