Patricia Ann Howell

HOWELL, MASSIE, HESTER, NORMAN, LENT

Posted By: skipton
Date: 11/16/2011 at 12:37:01

Patricia Ann Howell, 72, died peacefully in her sleep in the morning hours of November 14, 2011, from complications of ALS. Born on November 30th, 1938, in Orange, New Jersey, Pat was the daughter of Lowry and Gertrude (Hester) Massie. Upon graduating from Columbia High School in Maplewood, New Jersey, she attended University of Kentucky and nursing school before starting her lifelong service in nursing and public health. Her Iowa career started in Burlington, where she was a nurse at Burlington Hospital and then Director of SE Iowa Homemaker Home Health Aide Service, Inc. She then worked in Des Moines as Chief in the bureaus of Public Health and Home Care Aids for the Iowa Department of Public Health. Her achievements included initiating the Child Death Review Process for Iowa. She was an active member of the Mediapolis and Columbus Junction United Presbyterian Churches, serving on many committees. She was also active in East Iowa Presbytery. She gladly gave of her time and talents to Early Childhood Iowa - Des Moines/Louisa counties with the goal of helping children in our area get a strong start in education and life.

A blind date, while Jim was in the Army in New Jersey, resulted in a 49-year marriage to her loving husband, Jim, married June 9, 1962 at East Orange, New Jersey. In their retirement years, Jim and Pat have spent many happy days enjoying their five grandchildren. Lots of hugs and kisses all around. They also enjoyed many adventures in the United States and around the world as they vacationed together. Pat loved reading, tackling complicated crossword puzzles, lunching with friends, competing in the Almanac contests, and enjoying family gatherings celebrating anything big or small.

Pat was the adored mother of Kathy (Brad Norman), Susan (Andrew Lent), and Tom (Tara) Howell. Her grandchildren are Ann Lent, and Taylor, Victoria, Madeleine, and Cael Howell. She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Lowry Massie.

The family will hold a service to celebrate her life on Saturday, November19th, at 11:00 A.M. at Columbus Junction United Presbyterian Church - officiated by Pastor Faye Fedlam. A lunch will be provided following the service at the Masonic Hall in Columbus City. A private internment service will be held at a later date as Pat has generously donated her body for the advancement of the research, treatments, and cures of MS and ALS. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to Columbus Junction United Presbyterian Church and the ALS Association. Honts Funeral Home in Winfield is assisting the family with arrangements.