Nana Barbara Howe

Barbara Lee Howe was born July 14, 1935 in Tahlequah, OK to William Andrew and Alice E. (White) Bolding. She passed from this life on Thursday, March 30, 2023 in Tahlequah at the age of 87. Barbara worked at numerous jobs starting at the age of 13. She was employed by Tahlequah’s school system for 20 years, where she touched many lives. Barb managed Wise Buy Variety Store for 20 years and then worked at The Mustard Seed surrounded by her family and customers that were like family. She was known to family and friends as Nana.

Barbara married Loy Howe on April 11, 1951. She attended The Woodall Methodist Church and loved spending time with her grandchildren and family. She hosted get-togethers, where she enjoyed cooking and caring for everyone. Her hobbies were reading, sewing, and decorating.

Preceding her in death are her parents, her husband, Loy, her sisters, Geneva Crow, Louise Rooks, Thelma Forester and Wanda Bolding, her brothers, William “Son” Bolding, Willard Bolding and Eugene “Gene” Bolding.

She leaves behind her brother, Don Bolding; her daughter, Sharon Copeland and husband Justin and son Gary Howe and wife Karen, and her son Terry Howe, all of Tahlequah. She also leaves behind her grandchildren, Kevin Copeland and wife Patricia, Jason Copeland and wife Kim, Gary Don Howe, David Howe and wife Ashley, Kyle Fisher and wife Chelsi, and Kurt Fisher, along with her great-grandchildren, Dylan, Madison, Holley and Garret Copeland as well as Katlyn, Haleigh, Blaine, Tristan, and Gilliam Howe and a host of family and friends.

Our family would like to extend a very special thanks to the entire staff at Cherokee County Nursing and Rehabilitation Center and Emerald Hospice team for taking such good care of our loved one in our time of need.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.reedculver.com for the Howe family.