Linda Melton Howell's Obituary
Linda Melton Howell, 72, of Longview, TX passed away peacefully, July 18, 2017. Linda was born in Armona, California on June 3, 1945 to Ira and Elsie Melton of East Mountain, TX.
Linda was married to her beloved husband, Joe Howell, for 48 years. For 44 of those years, they loved spending quality time at their shoe shop, Brookwood Village Shoe Hospital. They would frequent the next door Barber Shop and Beauty Shop where they would eat lunch or simply just do some cutting up. She loved getting her hair done and rarely missed her weekly appointment. Linda was always sharp as a tack, full of life and never missed a beat!
Linda touched the lives of everyone she encountered. She had a hand in helping raise many of her nieces and even a few of her sisters. Linda had a way of keeping those she loved in line and even those she just met. You can ask any Melton sister, they will tell you! She would always say she loves her girls; whether she was referring to one of her sisters, nieces or many longtime friends.
Nana enjoyed watching her grandsons Camden, Cayden and Carson play football and baseball. When at home Linda didn't ever like missing her favorite shows; Young & The Restless (but don’t start without Papa!), The Bachelor, Little Big Shots, America’s Funniest Home Videos, Dancing with the Stars and any cooking show she could find on TV. Linda also enjoyed special time with her cats, Boo and Boots. When she wasn’t raising kids, she religiously had weekly dinners with husband Joe and sometimes with friends too at Tele’s or Papacitas.
Linda was the strength of the Melton family and her legacy will live on in all the lives she graciously touched. She had a lot of love to give and she gave it well!
Linda was a Beloved Wife, Mother, Godmother, Nana, Sister, Aunt, and Friend. She is survived by her Husband, Joe Howell of Carthage, TX; Her three girls, Crystal Bowles and husband, Patrick and their two boys, Camden Stuart Bowles and Cayden Walker Bowles; Angela Berry Ice and Ben, and Ashley Berry Privett and her Son Carson Allen-Hugh Privett; her brothers, Lonny Melton, Billy Melton and wife Pat, Ira Melton, Jr. and wife Sandra; sisters, Peggy Stence and husband, Eddie, Patty Daniel and husband, Ronnie, Vicki Cato and husband, Wesley, Jan Douthit and husband, Darrin, Barbara Warrick & husband, Carl; Goddaughter Lynette Martin; nephew Bobby Reed; numerous other nieces, nephews and extended family.
Linda was preceded in death by her sisters Judy Berry and Sandra Fowler; her sister-in-law Margaret Melton; her brother-in-law Ricky Berry; her mother and father, Elsie and Ira Melton, Sr.
Visitation will be held at Rader Funeral Home, Friday, July 21, 2017, from 5 pm to 7 pm. A celebration of her life will also be held at Rader, Saturday, July 22, 2017 at 10 am with a precession immediately following the service where we will lay Linda to rest at Rosewood Park Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial donation can be made to Heartsway Hospice at www.heartswayhospice.org or The American Cancer Society at www.cancer.org.
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