Helen Maxine Howell

Helen Maxine Howell, our beloved wife, mother, daughter, sister, aunt and grandmother, passed peacefully into the arms of angels on the 22nd day of September, 2012, after a courageous and lengthy battle with ovarian cancer. Maxine, as she was always known, made a memorable impression on all who knew and met her. She was born in Temple, Texas at King's Daughters Hospital on December 31, 1942 to parents Helen Marie Snodgrass Tims and Mack Allen Tims. As the daughter of a father who chose the Army as his career, Maxine lived in various places growing up including El Paso Tx. and Salsburg, Austria. Maxine accepted Jesus at the age of 12 at Calvary Baptist Church in El Paso, Tx. Some of her fondest memories included living in Anchorage, Alaska, where she graduated from high school in 1960 and met the love of her life and future husband, Jimmy Howell, on October 6, 1959. Jimmy and Maxine met while she was still attending high school and he was serving at one of his first posts in the Army, Fort Richardson, in Anchorage. It was love at first sight and they were married in the chapel at Fort Richardson on January 6, 1961. They began a journey which took them to many different assignments at various army bases as Jimmy began his career in the Army and Maxine began her role as a military wife who supported her husband unwaveringly in his obligations and duties. They welcomed their first son, Jim, in Temple in 1963 and then were overjoyed when son, Keith, was born as they served in San Antonio in 1966 and finally they welcomed their long awaited for daughter, Cheri, in Germany in 1970. Maxine was a fabulous cook, immaculate housekeeper, loving wife, both mother and father on occasion to her children as Jimmy fulfilled overseas tours, and incredibly talented artist - all without missing a beat. They settled in Temple to continue raising their family after Jimmy's retirement from the Army in 1978 and he began his career at Texas Instruments. Many customers still fondly remember their business venture, Family Video in Temple, which they co-owned with extended family members from 1984 to 1989. Maxine was thrilled when she and Jimmy became grandparents with the birth of Isaac in 1995 and Hannah in 1997. All family members were loved without reservation by Maxine and she worked tirelessly to make sure family reunions were special celebrations and also took on the role of genealogy expert extraordinaire so that family history was archived for all as a gift. Maxine was diagnosed with late stage ovarian cancer in the fall of 2003 and bravely began her courageous battle with the disease in her fight to spend as much time with her family as God would allow. In the midst of her battle, Maxine found her passion for pottery. She used that talent and passion to create many beautiful and one of a kind "leaf" pieces and to create countless unique and individual "cancer angel" ornaments for the gift shop at the Vasicek Cancer Treatment Center at Scott and White Hospital in Temple. These helped raise thousands of dollars for the Scott and White H.O.P.E. Fund. One of the joys of her life was her annual arts and crafts fair which she hosted in her home each November for seven years. Maxine had a special love in her heart for her church friends, her "clay" friends, her exercise friends, her pottery customers and particularly her and Jimmy's card playing circle of friends whom she considered family. A special memory the family will always treasure is her brave journey in 2011 with family to Alaska for a memorable visit to the places where she began her life with Jimmy. For those who loved her and she touched and whom she leaves behind, the sun will shine a little less brightly each day but we know that she has gone on ahead to set the table for those who will join her one day. Maxine is preceded in death by her parents, Helen and Mack Tims, her sister, Kay Rose, and her grandson, Logan James Howell. She is survived by her husband of 51 years, James A. "Jimmy" Howell of Temple. Maxine also leaves behind her three children, Jim Howell and wife, Mindy, of Georgetown, Tx.; Keith Howell and wife, Toni, and children, Isaac and Hannah of Georgetown, Tx; and Cheri Howell of Temple, Tx. Maxine is also survived by her sister Kathy Henderson of Lockhart, Tx; Mack Tims of Pendleton, Tx; Lloyd Tims of Wasilla, AK; and numerous nieces, nephews and extended family. A memorial service to celebrate the life of Maxine will be held two o'clock in the afternoon on Sunday, September 30, 2012 at Memorial Baptist Church, Temple, Tx. The family would like to gratefully thank Dr. Charles Capen, Sheri Stephens, and the staff of the 8th floor at Scott and White Hospital for their tireless efforts to give Maxine the care which made such a difference in the quality of her life. Memorial donations in Maxine's memory should be made to the Scholarship Fund of Memorial Baptist Church, 6161 S. 5th St., Temple, Tx. 76502; the Scott and White Cancer Treatment Center Fund, 2401 S. 31st. Street, Temple, Tx. 76508; or the Bridges/Penny Scholarship Fund at UMHB Box 8433, 900 College Street, Belton, Tx. 76513.