Howard Rousseau

ROUSSEAU, Howard Lee 92, passed away of natural causes on Sept. 12, 2010, at Munroe Regional Medical Center, in Ocala. Howard was born in Clearwater, to the late Eunice McNeil Rousseau and Taylor Rousseau. He grew up at a time when Pinellas County was still natural and undeveloped, and he loved to tell stories about his life on a grove and living miles from town. Howard was a member of the Rousseau, McMullen and Taylor families who settled the Clearwater area. He was predeceased by a sister, Edna Barnum. Howard is survived by his wife of 69 years, Marion Booth Rousseau, who is also from a pioneer family, (including Odette Phillippe and the Booths), and a daughter, Joan Rousseau Henderson of Lancaster, PA. Marion lives at Timber Ridge Nursing and Rehab Center in Ocala, where Howard and she shared a room. His son, Carl Howard Rousseau, predeceased him. Howard's loving family, who adored him, also includes granddaughters, Paige C. Henderson of Atlanta, GA, and Kimberly H. Gustafson (wife of Marc A.) of Denver, CO; and grandson Forrest Lance Rousseau (husband of Misty) of Murfreesboro, TN and their daughter, Isabella, who is a great-granddaughter. Misty's sons Mike and TJ were bright treasures in Howard's expanded family. His nephew, Donald Barnum, and Don's family, were a constant source of joy. His non-blood relatives included Thomas and Amy Nowicki and their daughters, Kaili and Kelsey. Howard graduated from Clearwater High School and entered the U.S. Navy, in which he served aboard ship at the onset of World War II. After leaving the Navy, he worked in the naval shipyard in Tampa. He also worked with his future wife, Marion, at Food Machinery Corporation in Dunedin. Later, he became a leading salesman and manager for Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company through managing stores in Clearwater and Leesburg. In the 1960s, he received the Company's national Litchfield Award in recognition of his performance as a company sales leader. His friends from Goodyear remained dear to him throughout his life, as did his classmates from Clearwater High. He retired to Lake Panasoffkee, FL in the 1980s, when he began to polish his skills as a bass fisherman. He loved nature, and Howard and Marion's home on Lake Panasoffkee was a perfect laboratory for discovery. He kept books by his arm chair to help identify the migrating birds and pond life as he looked out at the lake. He grew many prized tropical plants, including the bananas that he loved. He is best remembered by his family as a great storyteller. He would mesmerize family and friends alike with tales that were true and others that he imagined were true. He always had a G-rated joke for everyone and used colorful expressions when telling them. These phrases became known as, "Popisms." He fished all of his life, and made cast nets he made to catch mullet in the bays around Clearwater and Dunedin. He also hunted and kept trophies from deer antlers to snake rattles. Kiwanis, the Chamber of Commerce, Boy's Ranch, and the Methodist Church were his favorite organizations. As his life progressed, he became a devout Christian and read the Bible daily as long as he could. His life celebration service will be held on Thursday, Sept. 16, at 2 pm in the Chapel at Timber Ridge Nursing and Rehab Center, 9848 SW 110th Street, Ocala. The Reverend Warren W. Bennett of the Lake Panasoffkee United Methodist Church will officiate. The family will welcome friends at 1 pm. Memorial gifts may be made to the Lake Panasoffkee United Methodist Church, 589 N. CR 470, Lake Panasoffkee, FL 33538-6057. Online condolences may be left at ww.purcellfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are being made by Purcell Funeral Home, Bushnell.