of Harrison, AR
October 4, 1934 - August 4, 2018
Jack Lee Howell, age 83, passed away Saturday, August 4, 2018, at Hillcrest Home, following a brief illness. He was born in Harrison on October 4, 1934. Jack was preceded in death by his wife Loretta; his parents, Lee and Mae (Frederick) Howell; and his son-in-law, Scott Graham.
He graduated from Harrison High. Following graduation, he began working for M & F Office and School Supply as a stock boy, and with his excellent work ethic eventually ended up owning the company. In 1951, Jack met and fell in love with a beautiful angel and after literally walking 20 miles to propose to her, married Loretta Root. They had two daughters, Linda (Paul) Jackson of Florissant, MO and Leisha Graham of Harrison; and one son, Bill Howell.
Jack will be remembered as a gifted musician and singer. Beginning in his teens, he performed across Boone, Newton and Baxter counties in a family band with his father and uncle. In the mid-1950's he was recruited by KHOZ radio personality Upton Horn to play lead guitar in his band, replacing guitarist Red Gale, who had gone to work for singer Porter Wagoner. The band performed regularly in northwest Arkansas, Branson and the Midwestern US for many years.
He was also an able carpenter and cabinet maker who built homes and buildings in Boone and Searcy counties. His exploits as a bass fisherman are the text of some local legends. He still holds a regional record for falling out of his boat nine consecutive years in his excitement after hooking a large black bass. In six of those nine unexpected swims, he still managed to land his fish. Later in life, Jack served as music director for Bear Creek Baptist Church for five years before assuming a similar position at Batavia Baptist Church. His impromptu music programs at the Boone County Senior Activity and Wellness Center will be missed. Jack was a giving person who never passed by people in need without attending to them. He was a Christian who lived his faith every day and a man of integrity.
He is survived by his children, Linda (Paul) Jackson, Leisha Graham, Bill Howell, former daughter-in- law, Robin Ashley Howell, his seven grandchildren, Jordyn (Jay) Johnson, Sydney (Alex) Howell, Amber Shipley, Brodee Graham, Micah (Aaron) Howell, Noah Howell and Elijah Howell; and four great-grandchildren, Tegan, Miller, Liam and Murphy.
Visitation was 12:00 to 1:00PM, Friday, August 10, 2018, at Eagle Heights Baptist Church, where Jack had been an active member since 1965 and also served as a deacon.
Memorial service was 1:00 PM Friday, August 10, 2018, at Eagle Heights Baptist Church with Rev. Max Edmonson and Rev. Glenn Crenshaw officiating.
Interment was in Maplewood Cemetery.
Pallbearers were Brodee Graham, Eli Howell, Noah Howell, Jay Johnson, Jerry Cash and Paul Jackson.
The family expresses appreciation to the staff of Hillcrest Home and Washington Regional Medical Center and all those who have offered love and kindness for Jack and his family.
Memorials may be made to The Gideons International, PO Box 997, Harrison, AR 72602 or Shriners Hospitals for Children, donate.lovetotherescue.org/give
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13 Condolence(s)
Leisha Graham
Wednesday, September 12, 2018
Daddy,
I think about you several times a day. I look out my front door and remember when you drove down the road when it was hailing. Haha! So many stories and so many memories. You were a great dad. I’m glad you’re with Mom again, both finally healed. Will be seeing you again soon. Love you!
Shelley Hudson Ayres
Thursday, August 23, 2018
Linda, Leisha and BJ.....we're so sorry you lost your dad. Paul, I feel like I know Jack a lot better after reading your letter to him. Thanks for that. I know you'll all miss him very much.
Kurt Cisco
Thursday, August 16, 2018
Love you Uncle Jack and family. He will be missed. My dad, your uncle Jack and Aunt Wanda will be welcoming him to heaven.
Paul Jackson
Wednesday, August 15, 2018
I know you can read this, old buddy, wherever you may be. You’re finally able to do umpteen things at once. You’re with Loretta, your mom and dad, picking with Upton, and fishing with my dad all at the same time. So you can keep reading without interrupting a thing.
You know that you were one of my heroes when I was a kid, but if I’d known then that you’d someday be my father-in-law, I might not have been quite as much of a brat around you.
I never really thought about it until recently, but you could say that you had a direct influence on my careers, both in music and in film and video. When Upton Horn’s band came to Eagle Heights School every fall to play for the PTA fundraiser, you were the center of focus for a lot of pre-teen boys. The very next day, any kid who owned a guitar showed up at school with it. At recess we’d be on the playground, trying to copy what we’d heard you play the night before.
There was the time you said, “Here, kid”, and let me strum a few chords on your beloved Gibson ES-335. I’d watch you play, thinking “there’s no way I’ll ever be able to do licks like that”. Well, I was 100% right.
I remember staring through M & F’s store window, down on The Square, at the Webcor reel-to-reel tape recorder on display. I was fascinated. A few weeks later you lent it to my dad and it was all he could do to keep my hands off of it. That’s when my lifelong interest in recording began.
I’ll never forget the night I drove through Harrison, before Linda and I got together, and looked you up. We talked for hours. When I left that evening, it was as if there hadn’t been forty years of separation.
For a guy who didn’t eat a lot, you sure left me with a bunch of memories of us and food. I’ll miss cooking you biscuits and gravy, the cornbread and milk in the evenings, ice cream bars, grilled steaks and hamburgers, shrimp, and coffee with Jerry and the boys at Hardee’s. Frying fish in the kitchen and listening to rod ‘n’ reel stories. Linda’s beef stew that you always looked forward to.
I’ll regret to my dying day that we couldn’t do that fishing trip we planned. It hurts to think that we’ve done our last pickin’ and singin’ at the Senior Center. Those long excursions we took, either in your truck or my convertible, just poking down the back roads of Boone and Newton counties, looking around. Watching Gunsmoke. Calling you every day to remind you to get yourself to cardio rehab, which you hated, but you did because I called.
So get used to multi-tasking in your new relocation. You’re gonna have plenty more to keep you occupied when I get there.
Cathy Ramsey Vantine
Saturday, August 11, 2018
BJ, keeping you and yours in my thoughts and prayers. With deepest sympathy -
ashley
Friday, August 10, 2018
we are sorry that he passed away paryers to your family GLORIA AND THE GIRLS
Wanda Faye Crouch
Friday, August 10, 2018
Praying for the family and friends. May God grant you comfort.
Ron and Wanda Crouch
(Mother - Gladys Frederick Tucker)
Charles Parker
Thursday, August 9, 2018
Enjoyed being a member of Jack's Sunday School class, enjoyed his teaching, his great attitude and his friendship. God bless Jack's family.
Rusty and Donna Lynn Willis
Thursday, August 9, 2018
Leisha & family,
We were so sad to learn of your father's passing. He was such a sweet man. He ALWAYS had a smile for us. We ran into him at Wal-Mart many times. He said he would go there often, as he was so lonely after your mother, Loretta passed away. I tried to encourage him to go to the Senior Center & get involved with
their many bus trips & activities; but, he didn't seem interested. Bless his heart; he is the happiest he's been in a long time assuming NOW that he is with your mother. They are singing& dancing together in Heaven! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! AMEN!
Our love & prayers for you & your family,
Rusty & Donna Lynn (Willis)😢
Sharon Pierce
Thursday, August 9, 2018
Your family has my deepest symapthy. I never met your father but after reading about him, I can see why you loved him so much. Thank God for good memories.
Kim Moore
Thursday, August 9, 2018
My sympathies to Leisha and all the family. After reading your dad’s obituary, I see he was a good Christian man. Precious in the Lord’s eyes are the deaths of his saints.
The Rev. Paula M. Jackson
Tuesday, August 7, 2018
Love and prayers for a person who made the world a better place. May light perpetual shine upon him.
Sam Lewis
Monday, August 6, 2018
Good Bye to my good buddy, and Happy "pickin. I'll see you down the road soon.