G. Blaine HOWELL Jr.

HOWELL, G. Blaine Jr.

of Tampa passed away peacefully during the evening of June 27, 2015 surrounded by three generations of family. He was born in Tampa April 20, 1927 at Bayside Hospital, formerly the "Biglow Mansion" to George B. Howell Sr. and Mary Trice Clewis Howell. He attended Gorrie Elementary, Wilson Jr. High and Plant High School. From 1945 to 1946 he served in the Army Air Corps' Weather Service in Germany. In 1947, he enrolled at the University of Florida and married the love of his life of almost 60 years, Janie Elizabeth Graham. Their romance got off to a rocky start as adolescents and neighbors on Ardson Place (his dog, Zipper, chased her cat Grace!). Blaine began his career by splitting time managing the Tampa Theatre building and Myrtle Hill Memorial Park, a cemetery purchased by his grandfather, Tampa banker, A. C. Clewis, during the Great Depression. Thereafter, he served the remainder of his career as president of Myrtle Hill. He served on the board of the Marine Bank and Trust Co. and was active in civic affairs, including the United Way. He was a member of Tampa Yacht & Country Club and the University Club and a former member of Palma Ceia Golf & Country Club and Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla. Blaine enjoyed golf and had been an avid sailor beginning at an early age with his father and brother, Clewis. In 1946 his father had purchased a 48' schooner, the Rambler II and they participated in the St. Petersburg to Havana Race from 1947 to 1950, winning the Schooner Division in 1949. He was preceded in death by this wife, Janie G. Howell; his daughter, Ann Blaine Walker; his brother, A. Clewis Howell; and his sister, Mary Trice Taliaferro. He is survived by his daughter, Jane Trice Lininger (Dale, deceased) and his son, George B. Howell III (Mary Lib). He is also survived by his grandchildren, Cain Diehl (Jessica), Courtney Howell Smith (C. Vance), Mallory Howell, Martin Gonzalez, Michelle Gonzalez, Colby Strickland (Matt), Merribeth Thomas; his nephew, Ted Bell; nieces, Wynnette Hampton (Hiram), Hilary Davis (Chuck), Heidi Land (Tony); 14 great-grandchildren; and 8 great-nieces and nephews. The family would like to especially thank Dr. Mark Smith, Dr. Laurence Neufeld, and Dr. Vincent Perron for their extraordinary care, and for the wonderful kindness and care of the nurses and staff at Tampa General Hospital. A visitation will be held Thursday, July 2, from 4-7 pm at Blount & Curry Funeral Home, 605 S. MacDill Ave. In lieu of flowers, the family requests consideration of donations to the Tampa Bay History Center or the Animal Coalition of Tampa. A private interment at Myrtle Hill Memorial Park will follow. Blount & Curry MacDill 813-876-2421