Margaret May Howard

Margaret Hutchins Howard, was born on a farm near the town of Savoy, Fannin County, Texas, to Louella and Elijah Hutchins on November 1,1931. She was only 15 months younger than her brother, Elijah, Junior. When she was about 7, the little family left the farm to move into Savoy. At that time a dear Sunday school teacher, Mrs. Lyle, began taking Margaret to church & introduced her to Jesus.

She was 10 when Pearl Harbor was attacked. Like many north Texas families, her parents moved their family to Grand Prairie so both of them could work in the defense plant, North American. Her early years in Grand Prairie were spent living in government barracks, going half days to an overcrowded school and attending First Baptist Church.

In 1949 she graduated from Grand Prairie High School where she had been a majorette. She married her Gopher football player sweetheart, James Howard, on September 1,1950. Theirs was the first wedding in the sanctuary of First Baptist Church when it was located on NE 2nd Street.

Margaret & James raised their two daughters, Brenda and Marla in First Baptist Church where she taught Sunday school and VBS. They were also active in the Grand Prairie Optimists Club.

Margaret became a widow at the age of 49. After she lost James, she devoted her time and attention to her family, especially her grandchildren. She became known as Gamom to her grandkid’s friends. Every Sunday she was always in her usual spot, right side, 5th row from the front at First Baptist.

She is survived by her daughter, Brenda Carty and husband, Ken, daughter, Marla Howard, daughter of her heart, Colleen Reed; granddaughter, Heather Moreno and her husband, Ronnie, granddaughter, Cortney McComiskey and her husband, Mark; grandson, Cameron Carty; granddaughter, Haley Thorne; bonus granddaughter, Amanda Arnold; great-grandchildren, Lane McComiskey, Morgan McComiskey, Kolt White & Wyatt Carty.

She lived her faith. She was content in the same house for 63 years where she was always ready to offer a listening ear and a glass of tea or a grilled cheese sandwich. Everyone knew she prayed about everything. She was the first one many called when they needed prayer because they knew she would be faithful to pray and that her prayers were heard and honored.

Margaret is living proof that in spite of circumstances, we can be content and joyful when we have a relationship with Jesus. She knew having the daily assurance of his presence is all that really matters in this life and the next.

A graveside service will be held at Old Southland Cemetery, 1205 SW 3rd St, Grand Prairie, TX, 75051, on February 20, 2026, at 11:00 am.