Helen Lorraine (Dowd) Howell

Helen Lorraine (Dowd) Howell, age 92, of Vandalia, passed away Friday, June 16, 2017, at St. Joseph's Bluffs Care Center in Jefferson City. Helen was born January 24, 1925, in Bonne Terre, Missouri, the daughter of Edward Francis and Agnes Lillian (Hoaglund) Dowd. Helen married William Leighton Howell on May 27, 1948, in Hannibal, he preceded her in death on February 16, 1996. Helen graduated from the University of Missouri with her Bachelor's degree in Education in 1946. She began teaching home economics at the Vandalia High School that fall. Helen went back to Mizzou and received her Master's in Education in December 1973. She then taught remedial reading at the Van-Far elementary school until retiring in 1987. Helen was a faithful member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church and the Altar and Rosary Society and she had also served on the Van-Far School Board. She enjoyed helping with Tuesday evening Mass at the WERDCC for many years, playing bridge, antiquing, golfing and spending time with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Helen owned and operated the Prairie Flower Antiques Shop on Main Street in Vandalia for several years. Survivors include: two sons: William L. Howell Jr. and wife, Kathy of Columbia; Michael E. Howell and wife, Barbara of Webster, Minnesota; two daughters: Patricia J. Gibson and husband, Jerry of Kalama, Washington; Mary C. Cooper and husband, Dean of Wardsville, Missouri; two brothers: Richard H. Dowd of Fruitland, Maryland and Bernard P. Dowd of Deerfield, Illinois; eight grandchildren: Jonathan Gibson and wife, Laurie of Santa Cruz, California; Jeremy Gibson and wife, Bonnie of Portland, Oregon; Alicia Gibson Villanueva and husband, Rex of Seattle, Washington; Katie Howell Schwalbe and husband, Luke of Northfield, Minnesota; Meaghan Howell of Minneapolis; Benjamin Cooper and Christopher Cooper both of Wardsville and Emma Howell of Columbia; five great-grandchildren: Madeline and William Gibson of Santa Cruz; Lucy and Daisy Gibson of Portland, Oregon and Faye Villanueva of Seattle. She was preceded in death by: parents; husband, William; two brothers: James D. Dowd and Robert C. Dowd. Visitation will be Wednesday, June 21, 2017, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Waters Funeral Chapel in Vandalia. The funeral will be Thursday, June 22, 2017, at 10:00 a.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Officiating will be: Father Paul Hartley. Interment will be in the Vandalia Cemetery. Memorials are encouraged to the Alzheimer's Association, 2400 Bluff Creek Drive, Columbia, Missouri 65201.