Lillie Ella Howser

Services were 1 p.m. April 21 at Montgomery-Viets Chapel with the Rev. Tim Haupt officiating. The eulogy was given by Jeff Julich. Music was provided by Caylee Howser who played a flute solo, “Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” and Russ and Skyla Weeks who sang, “Wings of a Dove,” “Sweet By and By” and “Beulah Land.” Burial was in Memorial Gardens Cemetery under the direction of Montgomery-Viets Funeral Home of Buffalo. Escorts were Bill Hicks, Larry Hicks, Phil Legan, Lyndol Sturdevant, Dale Zimmerman and Gail Zimmerman. Lillie Ella Hanna Howser, 99, was born Nov. 3, 1911, to Charley and Rhoda Hanna. She died April 18, 2011, at Parkview Healthcare Facility, Bolivar. Her younger years were spent in the Dallas County area. She graduated from Long Lane School before the family moved to Denver, Colo., due to her older sister’s health. Following her sister’s death, the family returned to Dallas County. She met and married Guy Ether Howser. They moved to Denver where their only child was born, then returned a few years later. During the Great Depression, her husband worked at various jobs which took him away from the family. She was always strong and cared for her son and home. They moved to Kansas City where her husband worked as a carpenter. Several years were spent in Kansas City while they bought a farm in Buffalo. Eventually they returned to Buffalo. She recalled her days of riding fast on horseback to school and going to town and church in the family horse-drawn wagon. She was an immaculate housekeeper, taking pride in her family and home. She enjoyed nice things but only bought what they could afford, never borrowing, a practice which she adamantly opposed. She enjoyed sprucing up the house and painting the fence surrounding the home, always claiming that paint is the cheapest fix-up there is. She was an excellent seamstress, making her son’s first suit, many square-dancing dresses and quilts. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Guy; her son, Jim Howser; her sisters: Nina Hanna, Beaulah Grady and Wilna Sturdevant; and her brother, Buck Hanna. Survivors include a daughter-in-law, Dixie Howser, Buffalo; two grandchildren: Dennie and wife, Christy Howser, Springfield, and Debbie and husband, Jeff Julich, Ozark; five great-grandchildren: Summer and husband, Mike Freese, Mariah and Caylee Howser and Nick and Luke Anderson; two sisters: Dottie Hicks, Buffalo, and Vivian Belt, Kansas City; and a number of family and friends.

Lillie Ella Howser

November 3, 1911 - April 18, 2011