Mary Francis Howard

Mary Francis Howard departed this life peacefully on April 7. We have missed her for years. In her prime she was fun, smart, funny, a bit bossy (but always with her heart in the right place). As a dear friend said, “She was a Pistol Packin’ Mama and we loved her.”

She was born on April 24,1933, in Atlanta, Georgia, the only child of R.R. and Mary Stubbs. She graduated from the Napsonia School. While at “NAPS” she met and started dating Thomas B. “Tommy” Howard, a student at Georgia Tech. She attended Sophie Newcomb and the University of Georgia before returning to Atlanta to marry him. Mary Francis was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority. As she and Tommy moved, Kappa alumnae groups brought her many close friends and fun times, in Atlanta, in a Chicago suburb, and finally in Dallas, where the family moved in 1977.

In addition to Kappa, she was an active member of the Dallas Woman’s Club, serving on the Board of Governors, an officer of the Dallas Garden Club, and an enthusiastic member of the Craig Class. She enjoyed a number of book clubs and card groups as well. She delivered Meals on Wheels and rang the bell at Christmas for the Salvation Army. She loved being a greeter. She would be equally happy as a greeter at the Woman’s Club or at Walmart.

Mary Francis had many collections, but the collection she treasured most was her collection of friends. Perhaps because she was a member of what she called “the only child club,” she reached out and made friends easily. She loved and was loved by so many people. As one friend said, “She was everybody’s best friend and she organized us all.”

The only thing more important than her friends was her family. As one daughter-in- law put it, “I will remember her as the mother who kept her family close.” She used to say to her children, “The greatest gift I gave to you is each other.” She treasured and enjoyed her grandchildren, and they enjoyed many fun times with “Neenie and Daddy Tommy.” She is pictured here with Laura, her first grandchild.

Our mother taught us how to love, and one of her important messages was, “Be a Plus in the world, not a Minus.” Now she is free to be herself again, being a Plus and organizing everyone.

She is preceded in death by her beloved husband, Thomas B. Howard. She is survived by her children, Mary Elizabeth Schleier (Grady), Tom Howard (Wendy), Billy Howard (June), and Laura Heyser (Hank), ten grandchildren and three great- grandchildren.

The family will be forever grateful for the care our mother received from Donna Davis, Kim Booth, and Rebecca Mutangadura, as well as Tristina and Ellen from Sovereign Hospice.

There will be a memorial service at Christ the King Catholic Church on Wednesday, April 19, at 10 am with a reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to VNA Meals on Wheels.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.Sparkman-Hillcrest.com for the Howard family.