Vala Ree Howell

Vala Ree Howell transitioned earth to be with our Lord on the evening of 11 August 2021. She leaves to celebrate her life, her husband of 66 years, Odell Howell Sr. their children, O’Dell Howell Jr (Dahlia), Othello Howell, Dorothy Hernandez (Victor), Cynthia Howell, Joyce Howell, Doris Howard, Velma R. Smith (sister), Mattie Ree Dixon (sister-friend), 12 grandchildren, 32 great-grandchildren, 7 great-great grandchildren, and a host of nieces and nephews. Awaiting her arrival to heaven are 5 brothers,

John L. Simpson, Fletcher Smith Jr, James H. Smith, Fred L. Smith, Robert L. Smith, her loving grandson Sean Howell and angelic great-granddaughter Angelina Shipman.

Vala Ree, known affectionately as Val, was born to the late Orah Fisher and Fletcher Smith, Sr. August 12,1939, in Waldo, AR. Val married the love of her life, Odell Howell, May 14, 1955. They moved west to Tucson, AZ, where they lived and raised their family for 63 years. Val was a trailblazer, as one of the first women welders and mechanics to work at Duval Copper mine in the 1970s. She worked there for more than a decade. She later worked for Handicar and was hired at SunTran where she earned the affectionate moniker “Bad Mama Jama” because of her vibrant no-nonsense vibe. She drove for 18 years, before retiring in 2011