Sarah Howell

Sarah Theresa Howell (O’Neill) died peacefully on August 5, 2025 in Colorado Springs. Born in Marshall, Oklahoma on January 27, 1941, with a brief stop in Kansas her family moved to La Junta, Co where she grew up with her parents and 4 siblings. Her father proudly worked for the Santa Fe railroad handling baggage and ticketing. Her mother was a selfless homemaker.

After graduating with honors at La Junta High school Sarah went to the University of Colorado in Boulder and majored in English Literature and Journalism. While in Boulder in the early autumn of 1963 she met the love of her life, Jay Howell, and they were married on July 11,1964.

For summer work they moved to several locations in Colorado, South Dakota, Wyoming and Utah and had their first child, Catherine (Kelly) Anne while in Boulder.

Jay graduated and work took them to California where their second child, future Green Beret William (Bill) Clark Howell was born. Back to Littleton, Colorado, then to Findlay, Ohio where Mary Elizabeth was born. Work then took them to Bridgeport, IL, Midland, TX, Lafayette, LA, and then 10 years in London, England before retiring in Colorado Springs. Before and during retirement Sarah loved to travel.

Each town had her in a different career: education, realtor and, teaching the illiterate,

She was an amazing cook and If you were hungry, she would feed you a five course meal; If your clothes were torn, she would mend them; if you were tired, she would make your bed; if you needed help, she would offer you a hand; If you needed a teacher, she would guide you; if you were injured she would tend to your wounds; if you felt angst, she would put your mind at ease.

The most important thing in her life was her religion. She was a very devout Catholic and lived her faith to the maximum of her ability. She loved bible study and spent many hours pursuing it.

In addition to her three children she has four grandchildren, Morgan, Riley, Sydney and Wave.

Sarah was preceded in death by her mother Genevieve Alberta Bostick, Her father John Paul O’Neill, siblings John Henry, Katherine Ann, Mary Cecelia, James Francis and a son, Chief Warrant officer William Clark Howell III.