Olive Howard

(From Mason-Woodard Mortuary)

Olive K. Howard, age 72, of Webb City, Mo., passed away on Monday March 3, 2014, following a courageous battle with cancer.

 Olive was born on December 18, 1941 in Prosperity, Mo., the daughter of the late Kirk and Alta (Hawkins) Harper. She has been a lifelong area resident. She married Don Howard on June 10, 1960 in Miami, Ok. Together they raised three children. Olive worked as the telephone operator for Purcell, Mo., S.H. Kress Dime Store, Holiday Inn, and ran a daycare for several years. She retired as a secretary working for Hedge-Lewis Funeral Home and Mason-Woodard Mortuary. While working for the funeral homes she served as the director of Surviving Spouses. She was a member of the Frisco Church in Webb City. She was a volunteer for the American Heart Association, and the Title One Committee for Webb City Schools. She was a true advocate and fan of the Webb City School District and Cardinal football. She was a race car fan and she even drove in several races. She enjoyed gardening and taking care of her children and grandchildren. Olive never met a stranger, her laugh and sense of humor would always bring a smile. She will be greatly missed. 

She is survived by her husband of fifty-three years, Don Howard, Joplin; two sons, Leslie Howard, St. Louis, Mo., and Dan Howard and wife Kathy, Joplin; one daughter, Melinda Howard, Kansas City, Mo.; three grandchildren, Austin Howard, Kendra Howard, and Grace Howard; four step-grandchildren, Matt Monroe, Ashley Monroe, Alyssa Monroe, and Sydney Long. She was preceded in death by four brothers, Bill, Elmer, Kerm and Russell Harper; and one sister, Flora Mae Edwards. 

Funeral services will be at 2:00 p.m. Friday at Mason-Woodard Chapel. Burial will be in Ozark Memorial Park Cemetery. The family will receive friends 6-7 p.m. Thursday. Memorial contributions may be given to the Joplin Humane Society, the American Heart Association, or the Ronald McDonald House in care of the mortuary.

 Arrangements are under the direction of Mason-Woodard Mortuary & Crematory.