of Benton, AR

May 6, 1953 - May 21, 2024

Charles Gary Howell, 71, of Benton passed away on Tuesday, May 21 after a well fought battle with heart disease.

Gary was born in Newberry, South Carolina on May 6, 1953. He graduated from Monticello High School in 1973. In 1977 he began his career with the Arkansas Department of Correction as a Correctional Officer at the Cummins Unit. Through the years of his service he served at many units, became a Correctional Supervisor, a member of the Emergency Response Team and the Honor Guard. He retired in 2010 when forced to do so by his medical condition.

Gary met the love of his life, Kay, while working at the Wrightsville Unit. They married on December 17, 1983. Gary and Kay had one son, Marcus Shane Howell (Shane) in 1986.

After retirement, Gary's main focus was as the ''watchman'' of the neighborhood, where no suspicious activity would go unobserved. Gary's three loves were family, the Department of Correction and the music of Conway Twitty and Loretta Lynn. He was generous and kind to everyone he met. Even though he was sick he never complained. He fought a good fight until he succumbed to his illness on Tuesday, May 21, 2024.

Gary was preceded in death by his son, Shane, in 2013.

Gary is survived by his wife of 40 years, Kay; two sisters, Debbie Workman (Freddie) and Carolyn Haller; a loving mother in law, Jane Craft; a sister in law, Polly Benfell (Len); a brother in law, Larry Craft; one nephew; two nieces; six great nephews and 1 great niece, in addition to a host of friends he loved as if they were family.

Gary will be missed but will remain forever in our hearts.

A visitation will be held at 1 PM Friday, May 24, 2024 at Roller-England Funeral Home with funeral services to follow at 2 PM. Interment will be at Tomberlin Cemetery in Coy, Arkansas.

In lieu of flowers, donation can be made to:

American Heart Association
909 W 2nd St
Little Rock, AR 72201

https://www.heart.org/en/get-involved/ways-to-give

Sign Guestbook

7 Condolence(s)