Mark Harold Howell

Mark was born in Würzburg, Germany on October 25, 1955, to Wallace and Mary Ellen Howell. Growing up in rural Kansas, he was a 1973 graduate of Inman High School. Mark earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Fisheries Biology and Wildlife Biology from Kansas State University in 1984 and a Master of Science Degree in Fisheries Biology from Murray State University in 1988.

On September 3, 1988, he married the love of his life, Nancy Heath, in Mayfield, Kentucky. His first professional assignment was at Matapeake Island, Maryland, where he served as a fisheries biologist for the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.

In 1990, Mark joined the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department in Huntsville, Texas, and after 18 months transferred to Wichita Falls as the first supervisor of the newly-formed Inland Fisheries District for an eight-county region. In that capacity Mark served the people of Northwest Texas for 20 years. A well-known outdoorsman, naturalist and conservationist, he was active in the community in many outdoor issues. Some of these projects included serving on the Lake Wichita Study Committee; volunteering his expertise to River Bend Nature Center; organizing and serving as adviser for the Texas Master Naturalists, Rolling Plains Chapter; TPWD’s Golden Algae Task force, as well as the Red River Chloride Committee. His intent was to inspire his love of the outdoors into children and youth by providing continuous opportunities for great fishing in his region.

Every day of his life Mark strove to influence others to be loyal stewards of this beautiful planet God gave us. More than anything, Mark loved his family unceasingly, instilling in his sons an abiding love for the land and teaching them the joys of fishing, hunting, camping and sports. He lived his life to the fullest, always sharing a smile with friends and strangers alike. Strangers soon became close friends, and he will be sorely missed by all.

A faithful servant of God, Christ and his fellow man, Mark was an active member of Floral Heights Methodist Church. He is survived by his wife Nancy of 23 years, and by his sons, Andrew Joseph Howell, age 9, and Benjamin Wallace Howell, age 8; his mother Mary Ellen Howell of McPherson, Kansas; sisters Kathy Howell of Corvallis, Oregon, and Amy Warner and husband Jay of McPherson, Kansas; and brother, Matthew Howell and wife Tina, of Greenfield, Massachusetts. He also leaves behind his mother-in-law, Sandra Heath, of Mayfield, Kentucky, and his brother-in-law and wife, Scott and Kristy Heath, along with two nieces, Madison and Emily Heath, all from West Paducah, Kentucky.

Visitation will be held from 5:00-8:00 p.m., Wednesday August 3, at Hampton Vaughan Funeral Home. Services will be held at Floral Heights Methodist Church, Thursday, August 4, at 11:00 a.m., officiated by Reverend Stephen A. Robertson and Reverend David Turner. A celebration of his life will be Friday, August 5, 5:00 p.m., at his home church, Monitor Church of the Brethren, in rural McPherson County, Kansas, with burial following in the cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to a savings account set up as an educational fund for Mark’s sons at Bank of America, c/o Nancy Howell, or to any conservation-minded charity of your choice.

Condolences and fond memories may be shared with the Howell family at www.hamptonvaughancrestview.com.