Avis Berma (Edwinson) HOWELL

HOWELL, FRIDLEY, EDWINSON, VAN SCOY, JOHNSTONE, LYTTLE, CLEVELAND, WAGONER, TALBOT, PARKS

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 9/3/2009 at 13:56:36

Belmond Independent, Iowa
September 1, 2009

Avis B. Howell, 98, of Belmond died Monday, August 31, at the Muse Norris Hospice Impatient Unit in Mason City. In honor of Avis' wishes, a private family graveside service and inurnment will be held at a later date. No visitation will be held. The body has been cremated.

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Mason City Globe Gazette, Iowa
September 2, 2009

BELMOND - Avis Berma Howell, 98, of Belmond, died Monday (Aug. 31, 2009) at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit in Mason City. To honor Avis' wishes, a private family graveside service and inurnment will be held at a later date. No visitation will be conducted; the body has been cremated.

Avis, the daughter of Emma (Fridley) Edwinson and Edwin Ole Edwinson, was born on March 30, 1911, in Ames, Iowa. She grew up in Ames and graduated from Ames High School in 1929. Avis was united in marriage to Dana M. "Gov" Howell on Aug. 30, 1930, in Grundy Center. They lived in Ames while Dana completed college at Iowa State College (ISU) in 1935. During that time, Avis worked at the Iowa Highway Commission. Before moving to Belmond in 1940, Dana and Avis managed dairies in Wichita, Kan.; Omaha, Neb.; Fargo, N.D., and Hampton, Iowa. In Belmond, they opened an ice cream and Maid-Rite shop, later known as the "Mello Maid," which they ran until 1965. Dana had juke boxes in the surrounding 10-countywide area. Avis and Dana also owned and operated laundromats which included dry cleaning facilities in Belmond, Dayton, and Mason City; car washes, and a drive-in south of Belmond. Avis retired in 1971. Avis was a member of the United Methodist Church and the Methodist Church Women.

Avis was preceded in death by her husband Dana on May 23, 2000; her parents; her brother Ray Van Scoy; and sisters, Jessie Johnstone, Mae Lyttle, and Doris Wagoner; son-in-law David Cleveland; and grandson Tim Cleveland. Avis is survived by her three daughters and sons-in-law, Marlys and Gene Parks of Charles City, Janet Cleveland of Forest City, and Lora and Russ Talbot of Belmond. Also surviving are eight grandchildren, 18 great -grandchildren, one great-great-grandchild; and many nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials may be made to the Belmond Public Library Foundation, Belmond-Klemme Scholarship Foundation-II, Belmond-Klemme School Building Project, Belmond Community Hospital Foundation, or to an organization of the donor's choice. Arrangements are with the Dugger Funeral Home of Belmond.