Dr. Eugene Milton Howell Jr.

March 14, 1939 - April 2, 2024

Blue Howell was healed and united with Jesus on Tuesday, April 2, 2024 at the age of 85. He was born on March 14, 1939 in Selma, AL to the late Dr. Eugene Milton Howell and Mary Alyce Hubbard Howell. He was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Kay Buchanan Howell; children, Jeffrey Eugene Howell (Beth), Linda Howell Veach (Craig) and Mary Alyce Howell Garner (Cason); 7 grandchildren: Brandon Veach (Lauren), Anna Elizabeth Beers (Ben), Mary Kaylin Armstead (Tyler), Kayley Garner, Cale Garner, Mary Drue Garner and Graves Garner. Blue was also survived by 6 beautiful great grandchildren Lucy Callen, Hudson, Mary Holland, Lettie, Charlotte Anne and Coleman.

Blue is also survived by his two loving sisters Shirley Howell Rothy and Ann Hubbard Howell Martin(Bob); in laws Franklin and Linda Harrison and many wonderful nieces and nephews.

Blue graduated from the University of Alabama in 1957 and UAB School of Dentistry in 1964. He took over his father’s dental practice in Selma where he practiced for 32 years then he worked for Dr. Harrell Bullard in Montgomery for an additional 20 years. While raising his family, Blue loved playing golf at the Selma Country Club, playing tennis with Mary Alyce, hunting with Jeffrey and Craig and dancing the jitter bug with Linda. Most importantly, Blue loved the Lord with all his heart. He read the Bible through many times and was always reading God’s Word during his morning quiet times.

He was a longtime member of First Baptist Church Selma where he was a deacon and where he and Kay raised their family. Once they moved to Montgomery in 1996, they became active members of Vaughn Forest Church. During his last years, Blue was a part of the respite ministry at First United Methodist Church in Montgomery where he made friends, sang songs and did many arts and crafts.

A visitation honoring Blue will be Friday, April 5, 2024 starting at 12:30 pm at Vaughn Forest Church (8660 Vaughn Rd) in Montgomery, AL with a celebration of life service beginning at 2:00 pm. Dr. Lawrence Phipps will be officiating. Blue will be laid to rest at Greenwood Cemetery (945 Lincoln Rd).

Pallbearers will be Reese Harrison, Tyler Armstead, Brandon Veach, Ben Beers, Cale Garner and Graves Garner. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to First United Methodist Church Respite Ministry and Vaughn Forest Church.

“I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.”

Philippians 3:14 NLT