Nellie Lucille Howard

Nellie Lucille Erwin Howard, 105, a longtime Mokane resident departed her earthly life to her heavenly home on Wednesday, October 23, 2013, at Heisinger Home in Jefferson City. She had been a resident there for several years after becoming immobile due to an illness called Dystonia. In 1931, she married Thomas William Howard. He preceded her in death in 1953. Nellie was born on a farm near Steedman on March 22, 1908. She was the second daughter of the late James Oliver Erwin and Mary Krebs Erwin. Nellie attended Steedman School for her elementary education. Her family moved to Mokane after the death of her mother in 1919. She attended Synodical Academy in Fulton for three years while helping her grandfather, John Law Erwin, run a dairy. The two of them moved to Mokane and she completed her senior year of high school in Mokane. After graduation she took the teacher's exam and began her teaching career at Thornhill School near Mokane. In 1931, she married Thomas William Howard. He preceded her in death in 1953. Nellie then attended college at Central Mo. State in Warrensburg and graduated from Lincoln University. She taught 27 years at Hickory Grove, Mokane, and South Callaway. Nellie was very active for years in the Mokane Community. She was a member of the Mokane United Methodist Church where she taught a Sunday School class, taught in Bible School, was a member of the United Methodist Women and the quilting group. She was a member of the Mokane Rebekah Lodge, the Callaway Retired Teacher's Association, and worked many years by baking pies and working in ticket booths at the Lion's Club Festival. Nellie had a great love for basketball. She played when she was young and attended many many games as a spectator watching her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren participate. For many years she was a member of the South Callaway booster club. Nellie led a life of service with a strong determination to help others. She spent many hours walking the streets of Mokane collecting for the heart and cancer funds. Besides her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by a daughter, Doris Howard McDonald Hodge, one son-in-law, John Thomas; and one great-grandson, Seth Thomas; three sisters, Elsie Erwin, Anna Hansen, and Julia Hicks; and one brother, Walter Erwin; two stepmothers, Cassie Dutton and Alcie Erwin; and two step-sisters, Mary Catherine Harris, and Nina Swain. Nellie will be sadly missed but lovingly remembered with many great memories for her love and Christian lessons with discipline that she shared with her large family she leaves behind. Her attributes and character will always be cherished by her sons, James A. Howard (wife, Bonnie) of Jefferson City and William E. Howard (wife, Velma) of Mokane: her two daughters, Marilyn Jo Kammeyer (husband, John) of Holden, and Shirley Thomas of Mokane. She was also loved and will be missed by 14 grandchildren, 30 great-grandchildren and 21 great-great-grandchildren. Visitation will be from five to eight at Maupin Funeral Home on Friday, October 25, and funeral services will be at 10 a.m. on Saturday, October 26, at the Mokane United Methodist Church. Interment will be at the Mokane Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Mokane Methodist Church. Condolences may be left for the family at www.maupinfuneralhome.com.