Christina LeAnn Howard, age 23, passed away Wednesday, October 29, 2008 at 4:35 p.m. from injures sustained in an automobile accident.
Christina was born on July 6, 1985 in Joplin to Bobby Blackwell and Daniele Drake. Christina attended Webb City Schools.

Survivors include her son, Braden Lee Blackwell and daughter Selena Huff; her parents Bobby Blackwell of Carthage and Daniele Berker of Indianapolis, IN.; 1 brother, 2 sisters all from Indianapolis; half-sisters, Nicky Blackwell, Lacey Blackwell and Megan Blackwell and Rebecca Blackwell; maternal grandmother, Linda Drake Runion of Webb City and paternal grandparents Glenn and Marg Blackwell of Carthage.

Funeral Mass will be held at 10:00 a.m. Monday, November 3, 2008 at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church with The Reverend John Braun officiating. Burial will follow at the Carterville Cemetery. There will be a Rosary at 4:00 p.m. Sunday followed by a visitation until 5:00 at the Simpson Funeral Home in Webb City. The casket will remain closed at all times. Arrangements are under the direction of Simpson Funeral Home of Webb City.


Pittsburg Woman Killed in Crash

BOURBON COUNTY — A Pittsburg woman died Wednesday after being involved in a car accident in Bourbon County.
Christina L. Howard, 23, died shortly after 8 p.m. on Wednesday. According to the Kansas Highway Patrol, Howard was a passenger in a 1990 Caravan driven by Erica Caldwell, 21, of Frontenac. Caldwell was injured in the accident, according to the KHP, but the extent of her injuries are unknown. She was transferred from the scene to Mercy Hospital in Fort Scott.
The accident took place near 180th and Juniper on a gravel road west of U.S. 69. Caldwell was driving the vehicle east on Juniper when dust from the gravel road caused her to lose control and strike a tree on the northeast corner of the intersection.
Howard was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP. It is unknown whether or not Caldwell was wearing her seat belt.
Howard had been hired by a third-party campaign group and was canvassing for Kansas Senate District 13 candidate Patty Horgan at the time of the crash.
Horgan said on Friday that she did not personally know Howard, and that she had only seen her once. Horgan said she has spoken with Howard's family and relatives told her Howard was passionate about helping Horgan's campaign.
"It's just horrible," Horgan said. "They say she was very excited and that she was doing such good work campaigning. She was taken away much too soon. I am so sorry for this tragic loss. My thoughts and concerns are with her family."