Howard Daryl Batty

Private family memorial services will be at 12:30 p.m. today at Collier-Butler Funeral Home for Howard Daryl Batty, 82, of Gadsden, who passed away Thursday, May 14, 2015. Collier-Butler Funeral and Cremation Services is directing.Howard Daryl Batty was born in Pullman, Wash., in August 1932. He lived in Spokane, Wash., until he was 18. During this time, he and his older brother, Bill, were known to help those in need. Though young and poor themselves, they would make "washtub" stew from vegetables they collected from their uncle's farm, where they worked during the summers, to feed the hobos who rode the rails. At 18, Howard enlisted in the Navy (1950-1954) and was a Purser on a destroyer during the Korean War. In 1953 he married Rose Sannuti, and they were blessed with three children: Daryl, Tina and Stephen. In 1988 he married Thelma Jo Thompson. He spent most of his professional life working in the bookkeeping and accounting fields. He also started and owned various businesses. He enjoyed reading, treasure hunting with his metal detector and the occasional trip to the slot machines for his leisure. He will be remembered for his loving and kind character and for the family he left behind.He was preceded in death by his grandson, Arrmon Batty; father, Roy Batty; mother Ynona Gainer; brother, William Batty; and daughter-in-law, Jeannie Batty.Mr. Batty is survived by his wife, Thelma Jo Batty; son, Daryl (Susie) Batty; daughter, Tina (John Ezekiel) Gregerson; son, Stephen (Melinda) Batty; stepchildren, Rhonda (Jack) Crosson, Carol Griffith and Mike (Dawn) Parker; sister, Lois Paoli; and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Big Oak Ranch Inc., 6000 Shelly Drive, Springville, AL 35146.Special thanks to Amedisys Hospice; Randy Pickett, RN, Loretta Richardson, Dr. Jarrod Warren, Chaplain, Matt Rose, Benny and Karla Miller, and Dr. Steve and Kathy Gross.The family will receive friends at The Lake Room at Little Bridge Marina at 2 p.m. today, May 16, 2015, for food and fellowship.