Obituary of Jane Willis Howard

Funeral Services for Jane Willis Hunter Howard of Elsberry, MO, will be held at 10:00 a.m. Monday, February 25, 2013 at Elsberry First Baptist Church in Elsberry. Rev. John Bateman pastor of Ramsey Creek Baptist Church, will officiate with burial in Elsberry City Cemetery. Serving as pallbearers will be Matt Jones, Johnny Howard, Andrew Howard, Paul Keeven, Jason Snyder and Ryan Zupon. Serving as honorary pallbearers will be Harry Jones and Allen Siders. Mrs. Howard, 87, passed away Thursday evening, February 21, 2013 at the Elsberry Health Care Center near Elsberry. Born June 24, 1925 on the family farm in Clarksville, MO, she was the daughter of Howard Carroll and Frances "Fannie" McDannold Hunter. She was baptized at the Baptist Church in Clarksville. It was also in Clarksville that Jane's father owned the hardware store and hotel. When she was six years old, Jane's father passed away and she and her mother lived at the hotel until Fannie decided Jane was being spoiled by all the people who felt sorry for the little girl whose Daddy just died. Fannie and Jane then moved back to the farm. Jane's only living sister, Helen, was 18 years older than her and was often mistaken for her mother. She loved her dearly and they remained very close. Jane graduated from Clarksville high school and attended William Jewell College before returning home to teach at the Calumet School. She was united in marriage on June 5, 1948 in Clarksville to William Otto "W.O. Bob" Howard. Their wedding was memorable for many reasons, not the least being the heat that day and the string of firecrackers set off on the steps of the church just after the ceremony ended. After living the first year on the farm in Clarksville, Jane and Bob moved to Elsberry to the farm north of town where they lived for the next 50+ years. Jane and Bob were blessed with two sons: Robert Thomas and William Kevin. Jane began teaching school in Elsberry part time in the late 1950's. She taught language arts and history in the junior high for several years before moving to sixth grade and later back to the junior high as a math teacher. She graduated from Lindenwood University with a B.S. in Education in 1972. She retired from teaching in 1985. One of her most valuable skills as a political wife was the knack of knowing everyone's name. There is no doubt that her memory was outstanding but even when she could not remember a name, she had little tricks that she would use to get that person to tell her who they were. Jane was an outstanding cook who shared her dishes and recipes with family and friends. She earned the name, "Mama Jane" from college friends of Kevin who came to hunt at the Howard farm and enjoy her cooking. Holidays were a special treat and she enjoyed getting together with family and friends. Her grandchildren have many fond memories of Christmas at Mama Jane's house. Growing up as an only child, she missed the relationships of a close family. When she joined the Howard family, she became one of them, and dearly loved T.C., Mary Lucy, Tot and Virginia, John and Mary Lynn and all the nieces and nephews. She felt a very special relationship with Bob's sister, Molly, who she considered a sister. She was a 50-year member of the P.E.O. Sisterhood, Chapter AI in Elsberry, the Daughters of the American Revolution and the Lincoln County Women's Democratic Club. She was especially fond of the women of her Bridge Club to which she belonged for over 50 years. She was also a member of the Elsberry First Baptist Church for nearly 65 years. She was preceded in death by her parents, Howard and Frances "Fannie" Hunter; three sisters: Helen Frisch and two who died as infants; and her beloved husband of 58 years, W.O. Bob Howard who died November 13, 2006. Survivors include two sons: Tom Howard and his wife, Jean, of Auxvasse, MO and Kevin Howard and his wife, Elaine, of Elsberry; five grandchildren: Elizabeth Adrian "Beth" Howard-Snyder and her husband, Jason, Allison Marie Howard-Zupon and her husband, Ryan, Lauren Anna Howard, Erin Jane Howard-Keeven and her husband, Paul, and Andrew Clark Howard and his wife, Katie; and three great-grandchildren: Amelia Jane Snyder, Sydney Grace Zupon and Lucy Eileen Keeven. She also leaves several in-laws, nieces, nephews, many other relatives and a host of friends. Visitation will be held from 3:00-7:00 p.m. Sunday, February 24, 2013 at Carter-Ricks Funeral Home in Elsberry. Memorials may be made to Clarence Cannon Elementary School in care of Carter-Ricks Funeral Home, 107 S. 5th Street; Elsberry, MO 63343.