Myrtle Young Howe Stacker

Myrtle Young Howe Stacker, mother, grandmother, teacher, friend and world traveler, departed this life peacefully on Wednesday, November 4, 2009 at 11:50 p.m., surrounded by friends and family, at her home in Port Charlotte, Florida at the age of 94 – 23 hours and 10 minutes before her 95th birthday.

Born November 6, 1914 in Wilmington, N.C., she was the daughter of Thomas L. Howe and Alfreda E. McDonald Howe. Myrtle spent her childhood and adolescence in Wilmington, until the family moved to Philadelphia in her senior year of high school. In the fall of 1930, Myrtle attended Cheney Teacher's College in Pennsylvania, graduating in 1934. She continued her education at the University of Pennsylvania, completing a Master of Education in 1949. Myrtle moved to Chicago, IL in 1936 where she began her teaching career. She married the late Clarence Stacker on December 21, 1953. As a teacher in Chicago, Myrtle taught children from around the world, including her own son, Peter, at the Park Manor Elementary School. She retired from teaching in 1979.

As a young child, Myrtle traveled with her aunt, Mrs. Nada McDonald Cotton, to Puerto Rico, West Indies, Haiti and Canada. These trips left a lasting impression and Myrtle continued to travel the world throughout her lifetime. Her travel adventures spanned five continents and included visits to Israel, Italy, Russia, China, Honduras, Kenya, Germany, Venezuela and Brazil. To complete her world tour, Myrtle was planning a trip to Australia in 2010.

Myrtle retired to Port Charlotte, Florida in 1979. She served on the boards of the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra, the Peace River Music Teachers Association, the Charlotte County Jazz Society, the Arts & Humanities Council of Charlotte County and the Society for Entertainment Arts Department SEAD. Myrtle enjoyed entertaining friends and family, playing the piano and organ and spending time in her garden. She was a warm, kind and generous person who will be missed by her family and friends.

She leaves to mourn her loss her son and daughter-in-law, Peter and Natalie Stacker, Lincolnshire, IL; three grandchildren, Brenann and Eryn Stacker, Lincolnshire, and Megan Stacker, Seattle, WA; a sister, Rebecca Blake Myers, Baltimore, MD; a nephew Alexander Myers, Philadelphia, PA; a niece Crummella Myers, Baltimore, MD; a grand niece, Ariel Medley, Washington, D.C., grand nephew, Christopher Medley, Baltimore, MD; her friend and loving caregiver, Empe Doria, Port Charlotte, FL and a host of beloved friends.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, December 11, 2009 at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 1532 Forrest Nelson Blvd., Port Charlotte, Florida.

Please visit kays-ponger.com to leave the family condolences and to sign the online guestbook. Arrangements are by Kays- Ponger & Uselton Funeral Home, Port Charlotte Chapel.