Patsy Jane “Janie” Howell, 84, of Madill, Okla., passed away on Saturday, January 20, 2024, in the Mason Creek Nursing Center in Katy, Texas. She was born on March 4, 1939, in Davis, Okla., to the late Ernest Edward Yarbrough and Marvina West Yarbrough Stotts.
Janie graduated from Davis High School where she was active in sports and FHA. She married Hoyt Levoyce Howell on September 5, 1959, in Ada, Oklahoma and he preceded her in death on October 13, 1992. She was always close to her family growing up and they had large family gatherings with lots of laughter and food.
Janie loved her grandchildren and great grandchildren, they were a special pride in her life. She enjoyed coffee with her friends, playing cards and other games. She liked to dance, especially the jitterbug and that’s how she met Hoyt on a blind date. Janie was a member of the First Baptist Church in Madill and an avid believer in Jesus. She was very proud to be an American and for Hoyt’s service in the Marine Corps. She flew a flag in the yard to represent the patriotic spirit she felt. She enjoyed gardening, knitting, painting and handy work around the house. Until her hands gave out, she knitted house shoes for Christmas for the family and others each year. Janie was a lover of bright colors and changed the colors in the house fairly often to brighten things up.
She had two men in her life after Hoyt passed away being John Wayne and Mark Harmon. She watched every John Wayne movie ever made. She never missed an episode of Mark on NCIS. Janie watched over young children for over 50 years, she considered them her children and followed up with many of them over the years. She was the instigator of the love pat which lives on in the family today.
Janie is survived by her brother, Donald Yarbrough and (Wife) Linda Yarbrough; son, Larry Howell, (Wife) Shelley Howell (Children) Justin Howell, Heather Hughley (Husband), Jason Hughley (Children) Jenna and Aaron Hughley; son, Craig Howell, (Wife) Becky Howell (Daughter) Taylor Wortham (Husband) Josh Wortham; daughter, Brenda Diane Koob (Children) Nicole Lemons , Natalie Lemons (Children) Todd Rikansrud ,Taylor Rikansrud , Pyrah Crawford (Children) Ryan Membreve , Hadrian Dingman; son, Rex Howell-Smith (Partner) Randy Roland.
Casket Bearers are Matthew Combs, Jake McHatton, Carter Denton, Regan Hopkins, Jessi Bean Pierce, Judd Bean.
A funeral service in her honor is set for Saturday, Jan. 27, 2024.
Arrangements under the direction of Watts Funeral Home.