Iola Howard

Iola Faye Howard age 79, ended her sweet, strong life and journey on earth, after a long battle with Alzheimer's on Wednesday, January 31, 2018 at the Goodall-Witcher Nursing Facility in Clifton, Texas.

Funeral services will be 10:30 A.M., Tuesday, February 6, 2018 at the Clifton Church of Christ with Minister Steve Countryman officiating. Visitation will be Monday, February 5, 2018 at Lawson Funeral Home from 6:30 to 8:00 PM. Interment will be in the Meridian Cemetery. Serving as pallbearers are Brad Coffelt, Robert Flatt, Byron Howard, Everett Ray Howard, Gary Howard, Gary Phillips, Jerald Phillips, Michael Phillips, and Johnny Waldrop.

Iola Faye Flatt was born on September 11, 1938 in Hamilton County, Texas to Cortis Leonard and Iola Ivena Newton Flatt. She grew up on the family farm west of McGirk, Texas. When Faye was 6, after the death of her Mom, her Dad, (who all referred to as Pop), moved the family to Meridian, Texas. While Faye's older siblings attended school, she would sit on her Dad's lap as he taught her to read, as a preschooler. At a young age Faye absorbed life to the fullest seeking fun and knowledge. While in school Faye enjoyed acting and drama, basketball and performing as a majorette. While in high school she convinced the teachers that she should go home during study hall to do chores. Since her older sisters were married and left home, leaving her and Gwen to take care of the laundry. Faye graduated from Meridian High School in 1957. After graduation, Faye had a fun and interesting position as an intern at the State Capital in Austin. During this time she was planning her approaching wedding to her high school sweetheart, Charles Howard. Faye and Charles, married on June 27, 1958 in the home of her Dad, Cortis Flatt. After a honeymoon trip to Hot Springs, Arkansas, they moved to Galveston, Texas where they started their life together. On October 17, 1960 they were blessed with a baby girl, Susan Gwen Howard. Faye enjoyed spending time with her friends and family. She had an enthusiasm for life, people and God. This enthusiasm was seen in her smile, with her dimples and the twinkle in her eye. She loved to get to know people and then to share the fun she found in life. She was the one to plan events and entertainment at church gatherings or family activities. She was the Vanna White at auctions at the Howard Reunions and the director and or actor in skits she wrote, for Church events or family parties. Faye had a passion to share life, love and God with others by her art and stories. Faye, as the illustrator and her three sisters, Beth, Dortha and Gwen created and designed a monthly children's newsletter to encourage and share biblical values. In 1966, Faye and Charles moved back to Meridian, Texas to their farm. Life in Bosque County gave Faye more opportunities to share her creativeness and tell her many stories. Faye was also passionate about her careers. In the 1970's she was employed by the Corps of Engineers at the Whitney Dam where she illustrated the automation of the power plant. In the 1980's she went back to college and got a degree in technical illustration. Faye's illustration's and designs, can be viewed as you drive the roads and streets of Bosque County. Notice the bank sign, FSSB with the Texas star, for First Security State Bank, or the sign on Highway 6, for Byford Machines. Faye designed the logo for Natural Resource Conservation as seen today on caps and maps. In 1993, Charles and Faye decided to move to a house in the Spring Creek area of Bosque County. While Charles was ranching and farming, she was stuck out there alone, and needed more excitement and fun so she created her own travel business "Texas Van Tours". All tours departed from Bosque County, Texas and traveled to places like Big Bend, for the desert flower tour, or Oklahoma to visit the Will Rogers birthplace to name a few. Once again, life was fun on the road, touring Texas and nearby states. Outside of careers, Faye loved spending time with her family and three grandchildren. She was always planning special moments with each or all of them.

Left to cherish her memories are her daughter, Susan Baker and husband, Ronnie, of Meridian; grandchildren, Lance Baker and wife, Meghan, of Houston, Micah Baker and wife, Kayla, of Plano, Kelsy Baker of McKinney; great-granddaughters, Norah, Emery, and Clare; brother, Pierce Flatt and wife, Nell, of Pike Road, Alabama; sister, Gwen Coffelt and husband, Rex, of Clifton; brother-in-law's, Ray Howard and wife, Diane, of Santa Fe, Texas, Frank Howard of George West, Texas; sister-in-law, Bonnie Flatt of Keller; numerous other family members and friends.