Helen Howell 1911~2007

HOWELL, LEON

Posted By: Mary (email)
Date: 11/25/2007 at 21:00:03

Helen Howell, 95, Ottumwa
Courtesy of the Ottumwa Courier

OTTUMWA — Helen Fae Howell, 95, passed away Sept. 11, 2007, from heart failure in Mesa, Ariz.

Born in Bloomfield, Iowa, on Oct. 14, 1911, to Frank and Mayme Leon, the longtime Mesa resident was the widow of Charles Lee Howell and mother of Diane Howell.

Helen had several careers, including beautician, restaurateur and homemaker. She was an outstanding quilt maker and crafter, possessing a keen sense of color and much good wit. She moved to Mesa, Ariz., from Ottumwa, Iowa, in 1963.

Helen is survived by her daughter, Diane Howell, and son-in-law, Nick Quan; her brother, L.E. “Rufus” Leon of Bloomfield; sisters, Florence Modrell and Marianna Frymoyer (Dean) of Ottumwa; sister-in-law, Betty Leon of Davenport; many nieces, nephews, cousins and their offspring; three granddogs, Muffy, Henry and Zoie; and good friends.

In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by two infant brothers, Robert Hugh Leon and Carl Lee Leon, whom she always missed getting to know; her parents; brothers, Charles Emerson “Jack” Leon, Joe Dean Leon, Max Leon and Frank Van Y Leon Jr.; and sisters-in-law, Miriam Leon, Myrtle Leon, and Eldora Leon.

A visitation and memorial service will be held Monday, Sept. 17, at 6 p.m. at Meldrum Mortuary in Mesa, Ariz.

An internment service will be held Tuesday, Sept. 18, at 11 a.m. at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona in Phoenix.

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