Mrs. Mary McGowan Howell, 97, a resident of Dothan, Alabama, passed away peacefully at her home on Thursday, June 23, 2016.

A Service of Praise and Thanksgiving celebrating her life will be held on Friday, July 1, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. at First United Methodist Church in Dothan with Dr. James B. Sanders, III and The Reverend Lynn Smilie Nesbitt officiating and Glover Funeral Home directing.

The family will welcome friends in the church parlor prior to the service, from 10:00 to 10:45 a.m.

Mrs. Howell was born September 22, 1918 in Hartford, Alabama. She was the third of four children born to Albert Homer McGowan and Viola Childs McGowan. Her family moved to Dothan soon after her birth.

Mrs. Howell was a 1936 graduate of Dothan High School and attended Troy State Teachers College. She worked with the Community Chest (now the United Way) for 30 years. She was a charter member of the Dothan Country Club Woman’s Golf Association and a longtime member of the 21st Century Study Club and the Dothan Study Club. She loved music and taught ballroom dancing to teenagers for several years.

Mrs. Howell spent many joyful years with her family and friends fishing at Dead Lakes, Florida and waterskiing at Compass Lake, Florida. She loved her LORD, her church, her family, and her friends with all her heart. And Alabama football.

Mrs. Howell was preceded in death by her parents, her husband of 56 years John Cassie Howell, Jr., two sisters; Jean McNeil and Florrie Jones and brothers in laws W.T. McNeil, Warren Jones, Jim Howell, Pete Sinquefield and sister in law, June McGowan.

She is remembered with love by her two children, Mike Howell and wife Donna, and Mary Ann Howell Spann and husband Marbury all of Dothan, Alabama. A brother William Albert “Bubba” McGowan of Gainsville, Florida, and sister in law Nina Howell Sinquefield of Dothan.

She will always be Mamie to grandchildren John P. Howell (Heather) of Dothan, and Claudia Howell Sullivan (Patrick) of Madison, Mississippi and Chris Spann (Cheri) of Panama City Beach, Florida, Scott Spann and Kimberly Spann Weeks (Charles) of Dothan.

Mamie loved her great grandchildren, Mallory, Joseph, John Michael, and Claire Sullivan of Madison, Mississippi, Mary Morgan, Palmer, and McGowan Howell of Dothan, and Sierra and John Christopher Spann of Panama City Beach, Florida and Gage and Tres Weeks Of Dothan.

She was Aunt Mary to Warren Jones (Hazel), Sandra Jones Luellen (Frank), Carol Jones, Dot McNeil Mitchell (Terry), Bam McGowan and Gina McGowan Wolf (Rodney) and Katie Mitchell Hendrix (Joe) and Ryan Mitchell (Hannah) and many other special family members.

The family would like to thank her special caregiving Angels: Brittany Ascher, Jo Ann Lee, Sarah Graham, Ola Jackson, Ebony Hardy, Tiesha Corbitt, Ashley Frazier, Shawna Wesley, Brandy Snell, and Lori Carknard and also to Gentiva Hospice and all doctors and nurses and aides for their excellent care, with a special thank-you to Shantiffany Dawson.

Serving as Honorary pall bearers will be the Onyx Smart-Fellowship Sunday School Class and teachers, and the Wednesday Morning Bridge Group.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions would be appreciated to First United Methodist Church 1380 West Main Street, Dothan, Alabama 36301 to any of the following ministries: In Christ’s Name, Meals on Wheels, Mama Howell’s Ministry or any charity of choice.

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