MARY HOWARD

Mary Howard, 90, of Barada, passed away on April 6, 2016 at Falls City Nursing and Rehab. She was born to Ben and Sophia (Parchen) Kirkendall on Nov. 30, 1925 near Barada.

She was married to Junior Earl Howard on Dec. 24, 1943; they were later divorced. She moved to Barada to run Howard’s Grocery and feed store on Aug. 29, 1965 after her oldest son, Terry, was killed in a tractor accident in 1964. With the help of her four children, they ran the grocery and feed store from 1965 until retiring in 2013 due to her health. She lived in El Paso, TX, in 1944-45, and in Cutback, MT, in 1948-49. She was “Grandma” to everyone and she loved to be called “Grandma” by everyone.

Mary was a member of the United Methodist Church in Barada.

She is survived by her sons, Jerry (Barbara) Howard, of Barada, and Bob (Sherri) Howard, of Falls City; daughter-in-law, Bonnie, of Savanna IL; son-in law, Les Gossman, of Stella; brother, Dean (Donna) Kirkendall, of Falls City; 11 grandchildren, Todd (Laura) Howard, of Thompson, IL, Benjamin (Krystal) Howard, of Barada, Terry (Sara) Howard, of Falls City, Heather (Ryan) Picolotti, of Sycamore, IL, Jamie Howard, of Gretna, David (Becky) Gossman,  of Falls City, Jessica Snethen, of Falls City, Jon Gossman, of Kansas City, Ashley (Kody) Salsman, of Lincoln, Daniel (Tara) Gossman, of Johnson, and Jenna (Ryan) Schultz, of Tecumseh; four step grandchildren, Landen (Andrea) Koopman, of Lincoln, Dustin (Dilniya) Koopman, of Kansas City, Karen (Tom) Ehlers, of Mt. Carroll, IL, and Kristine (Bob) Kallemeyn. of Thompson IL; 21 great-grandchildren, Morgan, Darcy, Payton, Anna, Cole, Eryn, Preston, Dayton, Levi, Aksel, Noah, Tessa, Austin, Samual, Owen, Janie, Conner, Eliot, Garrett, Karter and Henry; nine step great-grandchildren, Cameron, Contessa, Haley, Josie, Andrew, Allison, Beckett, Addisyn and Dahlia.  

She was preceded in death by her parents; sons, Terry, and Rick (2013); and daughters, Robin (2015) and Nancy (1946, in infancy).

Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, April 11, 2016 at Dorr and Clark Funeral Home, with Rev. Jerry Yount officiating. Interment at Prairie Union Cemetery.
www.dorrandclark.com

The family received friends on Sunday at the funeral home.