Joan Elaine “Jackie” Howard was born on November 17, 1934 in Newberry, Michigan to John and Gladys (Green) Bodi II. She passed away on September 27, 2021 at her home near Collins, Missouri.
On January 31, 1955 she was united in marriage to Sumner William “Bill” Howard. They spent their early married life in Michigan before moving to Arizona and later to the state of Washington. In 1985 they moved to Missouri where they spent their last 35 years together before Bill’s passing in 2016.
Joan was a musician and a singer. She enjoyed entertaining others with her musical talents at numerous senior centers. She spent many hours playing her accordion and piano. She was a homemaker and loved attending church services at Black Jack Church of God-Holiness. In later years Jackie and Bill loved frequenting flea markets and planting flowers around the house. Jackie also enjoyed crocheting items as gifts or for sale, especially her much admired afghans and chicken pot holders. Jackie spent her last years in her home, surrounded by family, and in the company of her two dogs Jack and Holly who would sit with her and listen to her many stories of the past.
She was preceded in death by her parents John and Gladys Bodi, husband Sumner Bill Howard, brother Donald Howard, sister Lois Loper and daughter-in-law Debra Floore.
She is survived by six sons, Sumner Jack and wife Bonnie Sue, Henry Starr, John William and wife Maria, Donald Ray, Billy Todd with Sue Ella Moore, Daniel Warren and wife Sonja, her daughter Susan Alayne, her grandchildren Clint, Jerika, Alex, Liliana, Lisa with James Sullivan, Aimee, Michael, Shelby, Sarah and Mark, five great grandchildren, her brother, John Bodi and wife Bonnie, her sister, Cheri Norton and husband Dennis, and Debi LaPointe Howard. She will be missed by her many friends.
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