Mary Himrod Howard, age 88, of Zolfo Springs, went to her heavenly home and met our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ on July 10, 2024. Mary was born on April 13, 1936, in Labelle, Florida. She was a resident of Hardee County most of her life and graduated from Hardee Sr. High School in 1954 where she was a cheerleader, played basketball, and was an active member of 4-H, FHA, Pep, and Speech clubs. After graduating, she married Richard Robert Howard and became a loving, devoted, Christian mother to five children. Mary was a long-time member of Oak Grove Baptist Church where she was saved at age 10 and then baptized in Troublesome Creek. She was a Sunday School teacher, sang in the choir, and was an active member of WMU and the JOY Club for many years. As an avid reader she read volumes of books from the Church's library. She became a member of New Zion Baptist Church in 2014 and continued to worship and praise God in the same spirit. She had a passion for sewing, cooking, and swimming and enjoyed going to her favorite beach on Manasota Key.
Mary was preceded in death by her parents, J.W. "Jack" and Mae Frank Marsh Himrod; her son, Sgt. Richard "Dick" Robert Howard Jr., U.S. Army, 82nd Airborne; and her brother, John A. Himrod. She is survived by her sons James "Jim" Howard (Tammy) of Arcadia, Florida, and Donald "Jasper" Howard of Zolfo Springs, Florida; daughters Sara Jane Howard Willis of Missoula, Montana, and Joanne Howard of Wauchula, Florida; sisters Margaret Mactavish of Taos, New Mexico, Ann Fowler and husband Joe of Farmville, Virginia, and Ruth Moon of Tallahassee, Florida; four grandchildren: Julia, Josh, Sierra and Marion, and four great-grandchildren: Ava Grace, Ember Rose, Nolan and Amelia; several nieces and nephews and a multitude of cousins. She had a special place in her heart for everyone she knew and enjoyed spending time in fellowship with her extended family and friends.
A visitation will be held at New Zion Baptist Church on Saturday, July 20, 2024, at 10 AM, followed by a celebration of life services at 11 AM. The interment will take place at Oak Grove Cemetery. Pastor Stephen Darley will officiate the services. Mary will be dearly missed by all who knew her, and her memory will live on in the hearts of her loved ones. In lieu of flowers and in honor of her "fallen soldier" son, Mary requested donations be made to:
Wounded Warrior Project
P.O. Box 758516
Topeka, Kansas 66675-8516
Or online at
woundedwarriorproject.org