Mrs. Donna Joan Tow Tow Howard

Shreveport, LA- Funeral services celebrating the life of Donna Joan Tow Howard will be at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 23, 2014 in Couch Chapel at First United Methodist Church in Shreveport, Louisiana. Officiating will be Dr. Pat Day and Dr. Prince Altom. Interment will follow at Centuries Memorial Park. Visitation will be held from 12:00 p.m. until service time on Wednesday in Couch Chapel.

Donna was born January 20, 1947 in Gorman, Texas and went to be with The Lord on July 18, 2014 following a courageous fight with pulmonary fibrosis and subsequent lung transplant. Donna attended Temple High school and Hardin Simmons University. She married Arthur Lawrence Howard on December 29, 1966. For more than 47 years Art was her best friend, strong supporter, love of her life and care giver to the end. Donna's early married years were spent as a military wife following Art from Abilene, Texas to Augusta, Georgia, Lawton, Oklahoma, Donzdorf, Germany and back to Texas. They finally settled in Shreveport, Louisiana in 1973, where they raised their two children. One of Donna's favorite things was traveling with her family and exploring new places. During her life she traveled to 8 countries and at least 18 states.

Donna taught preschool at St. Joseph Catholic School for 24 years and at First Beginnings: First United Methodist Church for 11 years. She looked forward to the adventure everyday for 35 years and loved getting to know all the children and their families. She touched the lives of countless families and could rarely go out to a store or restaurant without a past student or parent coming to say "hi" to Mrs. Donna.

Preceding Donna in death were her parents, Donald Clayton Tow and Joan Elaine Altom Tow. She is survived by her husband Art and two children: Heather Howard Basinger and husband Dr. Brian Basinger of Shreveport, Louisiana and Trevor Clayton Howard of Denver, Colorado. Grandchildren are Caleb Dolin Basinger, Carson Howard Basinger and Cameron Altom Basinger. She is also survived by her sister, Jana Aikman and husband Phillip of Fort Worth, TX and nieces Amanda Moss and husband Craig and Laura Smith and husband Landon and their children, Jaxon Moss, Colton Moss, Emerson Moss and Stayton Smith as well as many other family members and precious friends.

The highlight of her day was being with her family: vacationing, camping, watching her grandchildren perform or play sports, going on picnics, having dinner or just hanging out. Her family could not have asked for a better wife, Mama or Mammaw. We will miss her every day until we are together again.

The family would like to extend a special thanks to the Doctors and staff of Baylor Medical Center’s transplant unit for the compassionate care shown to Mrs. Howard.

In lieu of flowers the family suggests donations may be made to the Children’s Ministry at First United Methodist Church in Shreveport.

Arrangements under the direction of Centuries Memorial Funeral Home, Shreveport, LA.