James Doyal ‘J.D.' Howell

Services for James Doyal "J.D." Howell will be 2 p.m. Monday, June 25, 2007 at Memorial Heights Baptist Church. His pastor, Rev. Paul Simpson will share words of comfort. Burial will follow at Oakhaven Memorial Gardens under the direction of Rice Funeral Service. Friends may visit at the funeral home from noon to 6 Sunday.

J.D. passed away Thursday, June 21, 2007 at the Claremore Veterans Center. He was 81.

Born July 5, 1925 in Slick, Okla. to James and Verdie (Ashley) Howell, J.D. received his education in Seminole, living in several Oklahoma communities as a result of his father's work in the oil industry.

With the outbreak of WWII, J.D. joined the Navy. As a medic he was frequently in difficult and dangerous situations. The Purple Heart that he was awarded bears three stars representing three wounds he received in combat. The Silver Star was awarded when he risked his life to bring six of his fellow platoon members to safety. And the Prisoner of War Medal commemorates the strength he displayed during that most challenging situation. He also received a medal memorializing four years of good behavior.

After receiving an honorable discharge, J.D. worked in a variety of jobs including shop foreman for the Oklahoma City Board of Education and operating his own taxi service. Probably one of his most fortunate job opportunities was working in a hospital where he was introduced to a lovely young lady doing her nurse's training. She trained there for three months and then returned to complete her schooling in Texas.

When she returned to Oklahoma, J.D. proposed and the couple married on Sept. 4, 1955 and made their home in Oklahoma City. Four children blessed their union. While in Oklahoma City, J.D. worked for a time as a butcher at a grocery store, but the majority of his work career was as a carpenter working with various building contractors across the state.

In 1988, the family moved to Claremore. With the motto "Busy hands are happy hands," J.D. put his hands to a number of tasks and hobbies. Whether gardening, working on home improvement projects, coaching little league or spending time with precious grandchildren, J.D.'s days were full and productive. He and Willma were a vital part of their church family at Memorial Heights and had many dear friends there.

Beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend, J.D. is survived by his wife, Willma, of their home in Claremore; his children, Pat Steelman and her husband, Leon, of Austin, Texas, Michael Howell of Bartlesville, Bonnie Couch and her husband, Johnny, of Wagoner, and Bob Howell and his wife, Elizabeth of Claremore; his grandchildren, Alissa Doyle and her husband, Andrew, of Austin, Joshua Steelman also of Austin, Amanda Couch and John Earl Couch, II, both of Wagoner; and Daniel, David and Allison Howell of Claremore; his sister, Collean Hume and her husband, Bob, of Tulsa; nephew Alan Hume of Tulsa, and great nephew, Zachary Hume, also of Tulsa.

The Claremore Daily Progress Sat Jun 23, 2007