Anna Howard

VISITATION: 6-8PM, Sunday, July 27, 2014 at Shorten & Ryan, Mason

SERVICE: 11AM, Monday, July 28, 2014 at Bethany United Methodist Church, 6388 Cincinnati-Dayton Rd., Liberty Township, OH 45044

HOWARD, Anna Marie (nee Maddox). On Wednesday, July 23rd, Anna Marie Howard passed peacefully from this world. She was ninety-three years young but still had the heart and energy of someone half her age. She was preceded in death by her husband William Kenneth Howard; brothers Roy, Raymond, Clyde, Arthur, Henry; sisters Effa and Bertha; and grandson James (Steve) Elliott. She leaves behind an extensive family and is survived by:

Her three children Sue Ann, Sara Jean, and Kenny J.

Her ten grandchildren: Scott (Lana) Elliott; Kathi (Lee) Ickes; Kelly (Thomas) Bute; Krista (Rocky) Morris; Nicki (Ron) Mercer; Stephanie (Mike) Lattire; Brad (Shawnda) Howard; Jennifer (Jeff) Bailey; Mark (Alyson) Davidson.

Her twenty-two great-grandchildren: Rebecca and Andrew Elliott; Samara Wiliamson; Elizabeth, Joseph, and Sarah Ickes; Sonya and Mathew Bute; Britney and Brighton Morris; Tyler and Austin Haggard; Kaitlyn and Josh Lattire; Breanne, Hannah, Shayne, and Ayden Howard; Ben and Owen Bailey; Grant and Paige Davidson.

And finally her two Great-great-grandchildren Dominic Williamson and Jaiden Haggard.

The Exceptional Life of an Exceptional Woman

Born September 1, 1920 , the youngest of eight children of George and Lydia Maddox, Ann was the only child born in Ohio. She was born and raised in a house on Tylersville Road, West Chester, Ohio. Known as Marie Maddox in school, she went to and graduated from Union Twp. School and was one of 23 students in the class of 1938. She continued to attend class reunions well into her old age.
Anna married William Kenneth Howard on February 21, 1939 in Mason, Ohio. She was a homemaker and wife of a farmer/ excavating contractor. They built a life and family together living in at least four different homes until they built their own home on Millikin Road. Ann drew the house plans herself . She became the mother of three children Sue Ann, Sara and Kenny. During this time she was active with her children's 4H and church activities. In keeping with the times, she was always gardening, canning, and cooking.
Widowed by fate in 1964, she became a very self-sufficient woman, continuing to manage hundreds of acres of farmland, tenant homes while raising her two youngest children and five grandchildren.
She had a hunger for knowledge, including how to do things for herself. She took an interior design class, and woman's auto mechanics. At the age of 70 she took a tax preparation class from HR Block. She impressed them so, that they offered her a job. She continued to work for them every year at tax time until the arrival of electronic filing, because "She didn't think she wanted to learn that!" Ann was a meticulous painter and wallpapered many homes with her sister Bertha. While these projects were always seamless, Ann regretably never seemed to find time to complete her own home.
She believed in hard work and clean living. Her life philosophies were "if you can't do it right, don't do it" and "Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without." Ann was the very model of resourcefulness, never letting anything go to waste and finding inventive and remarkable ways to reuse just about anything.
She was the first to give help and support to others in illness and times of difficulty, often at the expense of her own households needs. She helped clean, cook, do yard work, baby-sit, or feed family members in the nursing home. She was a faithful member and long time steward of her church, Bethany United Methodist Church. She assisted with rummage sales, funeral luncheons, church finances, and women's fellowship activities.
Known lovingly as Grandma Howard by all the neighborhood kids and family friends, she was expected at family functions with seven layer salad or Fritos and cheese dip and strawberries. Grandma loved all nature, plant or animal, and preserving the cycle of life. For everyone that knew her, if there was a question for which you needed an answer, she was the person to run to. She freely shared her knowledge and wisdom.
Anna Marie Maddox was an exceptional woman. A bigger heart or sharper mind would be hard to find. She will be missed by everyone who knew her. In her ninety-three years she left an impression that will be felt for a hundred more. Friends may greet family from 6:00PM-8:00PM on Sunday, July 27, 2014 at Shorten and Ryan Funeral Home, 400 Reading Road, Mason, Ohio 45040. Service will be held at 11:00AM on Monday, July 28, 2014 at Bethany United Methodist Church, 6388 Cincinnati-Dayton Road, Liberty Township, Ohio 45044. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to 4H or Future Farmers of America.