Shirley Ann Howe

Shirley Ann Howe, a woman of faith and love, passed away on Wednesday, July 17, 2024, in Cookeville, Tennessee at the age of 93. Shirley was born on November 3, 1930, in Wyandotte, Michigan to Charles M. Fite and Lillian (Baker) Fite. Following graduation in 1948 from Roosevelt High School in Wyandotte, Michigan, Shirley married the late Ramon “Ray” D. Howe on August 18, 1950. By 1961 their family had grown to include five children. Shirley was mostly a work-at-home mom, raising their children, and taking care of their home. She taught all four girls how to cook, sew, and to can and freeze vegetables from the garden. When the family lived on a farm in Imlay City, Michigan, she milked the cows by hand, pasteurized the milk, and made butter with an old churn, so the family always had a ready supply of fresh food, eggs, and dairy products. Shirley was also involved in the veterinary care and birthing of their farm animals, sometimes helping the local vet at other nearby farms. Occasionally working outside the home, she worked at the Levi’s factory, K-Mart, and a vending machine supply company, among others. Ray and Shirley purchased a flower and gift shop in Linden, Tennessee, and Shirley ran the store, making all the flower and funeral arrangements herself, teaching her children how to arrange flowers so they could help with the family business. As empty-nesters, Ray worked as a construction foreman for a large development company, which moved the couple every 3-6 months to a different work location—from Pennsylvania in the north to Florida in the south. They lived out of a small RV or motel room for several years, but Shirley met the hardship with grace. They moved back to Hohenwald, Tennessee following Ray’s retirement from carpentry in 1996. From 2000 to 2017, they were active members of the Pineview Church of Christ in Hohenwald. They made many long-time friends there. Each year they wintered in Astor, Florida to enjoy fishing and visits with family and friends who also wintered there. In 2017, they moved from Hohenwald to be near three of their daughters and lived in the home of their daughter, the late Deborah “Debi” Christiansen, and her husband Gary, of Baxter, Tennessee. Ray and Shirley were married for 68 years when Ray preceded her in death in November 2018. Their daughter Debi preceded Shirley in death in March 2024. Shirley moved to Mabry Healthcare, Gainesboro, Tennessee in 2022, making friends with nurses and staff who had come to love her. She loved feeding and watching her birds and hummingbirds outside her picture window. Always a green thumb, she also enjoyed watching her orchids and other potted flowers bloom. She made her private room cozy by having her daughters decorate it for every season. Shirley was fond of watching nature shows and became quite knowledgeable about birds, animals, and sea life from around the world. Being quite proud of her family—from her 5 children to her 13 grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren, she displayed pictures of all of them on her room walls. Shirley crocheted for many years, making afghans as gifts for her children and grandchildren. At the age of 90, she was still crocheting and donated 100 hand-made newborn caps to the hospital in Cookeville, Tennessee. She was a devoted wife and loving mother to her children who dearly loved her, as well as a faithful Christian who continued to look for ways to serve others. Loved ones remaining are: Daughter: Jerri Gilmer (Rick) of Eustis, Florida Daughter: Karen Neilson (Andy) of Cookeville, Tennessee Son: Larry Howe of Saline, Michigan Daughter: Robin Crawford (Tom) of Baxter, Tennessee Son-in-law: Gary Christiansen of Baxter, Tennessee Sister: Nancy (Fite) Reaume of Hilliard, Ohio Grandchildren and Great Grandchildren across the U.S. and a host of cousins and other relatives Visitation will be at 12 PM on Thursday, July 25, 2024, at the Pineview Church of Christ (751 Columbia Hwy, Hohenwald, TN 38562) and will continue until the time of the Funeral service, beginning at 1 PM. Brother Bobby Carroll will officiate. Burial to follow in the Loveless Cemetery (799 Columbia Hwy, Hohenwald, TN). McDonald Funeral Home is honored to be serving the Howe family.

Shirley Ann Howe

November 3, 1930 - July 17, 2024