Mary A. Howard

Mary A. Howard left this earth for heaven on August 7, 2014, after blessing this world with her beauty, kindness, style, and grace for 101 yrs. She was born November 22, 1912, in Oklahoma City, to John Cyrel Adams and Ethel Jones Adams. She was preceded in death by brothers, Vernie Lester and J.C. Adams Jr., and a sister Jeanette Adams. On March 31, 1935, Mary and Sam B. Howard were married in Oklahoma City by Sam’s father, Minister Robert C. Howard. They moved to Tulsa in 1941, and attended, worked for, and loved their church, Wheeling Avenue Christian Church and later First Christian Church of Tulsa. As a young woman Mary worked for a well-known dress designer in Oklahoma City, and continued to use that experience to design and sew beautiful clothes for herself and others. She also did exquisite handwork. Her love of flowers included growing and arranging them, and she was active in garden clubs. Travel was always of great interest to her and Sam, and they happily traveled the world together. Mary was preceded in death by Sam in February of 2000. Mary will be remembered by all as a caring, patient, talented, and beautiful woman. She taught us all, by example, how to live a giving, Christian life. Mary is survived by her son, S. Brent Howard, and his wife, Sally, of Langley, OK; their children Steve Howard, Apryl Stansill, and Samantha Howard of Tulsa and daughter, Lee Williams and husband, Paul , of Hondo, TX, and by her daughter Pat Peterson, and her husband Roy of Mounds, OK; their children John and Kim Tracy, of Broken Arrow, OK, Lisa Tracy of Stillwater, Kirk and Jan Peterson of Cleburne, TX, Pete and Kerrie Bussone, of Hightstown, NJ, and Kyle and Laura Peterson of Spring, TX. Mary’s great grandchildren include Amber and Jeremy Owings of Tulsa, OK, Rocky Drake and Stony Drake of Stillwater, OK, Krista and Cliff Brewer of Tulsa, OK, Jason Tracy of Stillwater, OK, Mathew, Justin, Brandon and Jeff Howard and Adam Stansill of Tulsa, OK, Ariel, Miranda, Emma, Jack, and Kyle Bussone of Hightstown, NJ, Justin, Austin, and Anna Peterson of Cleburne, TX, and Hadley and Henry Peterson of Spring, TX. Great great grandchildren are Zeke, Kailey and Emilee Owings, and Karsyn Brewer of Tulsa, OK. A celebration of Mary’s life will be held at Moore’s Southlawn Chapel on Wednesday, August 13, 2014 at 1:00 PM. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to “First Christian Church Endowment Trust Fund”, sent to First Christian Church of Tulsa, 913 S Boulder Ave, Tulsa, OK 74119 or to “NEATs Endowment Fund”, a ministry for seniors, sent to NEATs, 3119 S Jamestown, Tulsa, OK 74135.

Mary A. Howard

November 22, 1912 - August 7, 2014