Jackie Howell

1937 - 2012

WHITEWRIGHT - Jackie Wayne Howell was born January 24, 1937 at Porter Community to Harley and Bessie Howell. He married Ruby Trisler on May 26, 1979, at Sherman. He died Sunday, January 1, 2012, at Texas Health Presbyterian-WNJ in Sherman, Texas at the age of 74.

Jackie was a retired service man with the Texas-New Mexico Power Company. He was very involved in his community. He was active in his church, the First United Methodist Church of Whitewright. He was a member of the Methodist Men, and the Wesley Bible Study groups. He was a member of the American Legion, Goodfellows, the Whitewright Masonic Lodge and Order of the Eastern Star. Jackie served his community in the Whitewright Fire Department and by delivering lunches for Meals on Wheels. He also loved to sing. He was a member of the Sherman Barbershop Quartet group. Jackie served his nation in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War.

He is survived by wife, Ruby Howell of Whitewright; daughter, Debbie Dowis and husband Michael of Lewisville; son, James Allen Franks and wife Lee Ann of Denison; son, Billy Franks of Sherman; grandchildren, Eddie Grimes, Rachelle Franks, Jackelyn Evatt, Adam Grimes, Jessica Franks and Carrie Franks; 8 great-grandchildren; brother, Orville "Pete" Howell of Garland; sisters, Erma Dean Compton of Denison; Neva Nell White of Tom Bean; Linda Watson of Garland. He was preceded in death by his father, Harley Howell; mother, Bessie Howell Whitaker; son, Eddie Ray Howell; brother, Leo Howell; sister, Juanita Donihoo.

Funeral services will be held 2 p.m., Wednesday, January 4, 2012, at First United Methodist Church, Whitewright, Texas. Officiating the service will be Rev. Eric Rothe, Rev. Doyle Henderson, and Rev. Houston Garner. Burial will follow at Oak Hill Cemetery in Whitewright, Texas.

Pallbearers will be Glen Edwards, Richard Santogrossi, Larry Reck, Don Wertz, Darold Meyer, and Billy Tom Reeves. The Order of the Eastern Star will be performing a ceremony at the church service, followed by a Masonic service at graveside.

Family and friends are invited to the funeral home at their convenience on Tuesday to pay their respects and to sign the register book. The family will receive friends during a visitation on Tuesday, January 3, 2012, from 6 - 8 p.m., at Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Funeral Home, Whitewright, Texas.

Memorials may be made to the Whitewright Masonic Lodge or to the First United Methodist Church Building Fund.

Arrangements are with Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Funeral Home, Whitewright. An online registry may be signed at www.tjmfuneral.com.