Faye Howell

Faye P. Howell GATES - Faye Pennington Howell, 94, formerly of Gates, died Monday, Sept. 28, 2009, in Streator, Ill. Mrs. Howell was born in Ashe County, North Carolina, and was the daughter of the late Thomas Watson and Ollie Jeanette Graybeal Pennington. A 1932 graduate of Jefferson High School, she was a retired beautician, a member of Savage's United Methodist Church, and active both as a Sunday school and Vacation Bible school teacher at her church in Norfolk prior to moving to Gates County. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Stanley M. Howell. Surviving are two daughters, Betty Sweeney of Streator, Ill., and Margaret Merrill of Gates; eight grandchildren, John Sweeney II and wife Terry and Sheri Smalley and husband Steve, all of Streator, Terri Klotz and husband Chris and Kelli Mertz and husband Tim, all of Norfolk, Tommy Merrill and wife Anna of Hatteras, and Shelia Wolford and husband Johnny, Sharon Adkinson and husband Tony, and Timmy Merrill, all of Gates; 12 great- grandchildren; and two great- great-grandchildren. A funeral will be held Sunday at 4 p.m. in the chapel of Miller Funeral Home, 304 Main St., Gatesville, by the Rev. Billy Presley and the Rev. John Sweeney. Burial will be Monday at 10 a.m. in Holly Lawn Cemetery, Suffolk. Friends may join the family in the funeral home following the chapel service on Sunday. Memorial contributions may be made to OSF St. James Hospice, Pontiac, IL 61764. Online condolences may be made to the family by visiting www.millerfhc.com.