Frances Raylene Howard, the daughter of George and Florence Elizabeth Van Meter, was born July 2, 1932 in Fairfax, Missouri. Affectionately known as “Bobbye”, she attended Tarkio High School, Tarkio, Missouri. Between 1935 and 1936, Bobbye was awarded “Lil Miss Tarkio”. The picture on this folder was from that time.

On February 17, 1950, Frances was united in marriage to Grover Wayne Howard at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Westboro, Missouri. They made their home in Avoca, Iowa and became the parents of two children, Kathy and Michael.

Frances was a homemaker and a stay-at-home mom who was always there to help Mike and Kathy with homework. She was employed at her son Mike’s companies, Liberty Labs, World Cal and Liberty Auto Restoration along with Kathy keeping the places neat and tidy. She loved looking at the pictures and knickknacks in everyone’s work area.  Prior to that, she worked part time as a custodian at Trinity Lutheran Church and Capri Motel, both of Avoca. She also babysat children and her grandchildren.

Frances was an active member of Trinity Lutheran Church, Avoca and Ladies Aid. She and Grover were also members of St. John’s Lutheran Church, Westboro. She was a Den Mother for Cub Scouts and helped her husband, Grover. Frances passed away Wednesday, February 3, 2021 in Council Bluffs, Iowa, at the age of 88.

Frances enjoyed being home and had many interests including quilting, sewing, cooking, passing the time with family and friends, reading and her daily devotions. She loved the old time TV shows and movies. She helped Grover paint and canned many thousands of tomatoes that he grew. She loved the years of traveling with the family in the summer.

Besides her parents and husband, Grover, Frances was preceded in death by sister, Ruth Marie Davis. Survivors include children, Katherine (Jeff) Hansen, Walnut, Iowa and Michael (Lou) Howard, Elk Horn, Iowa; five grandchildren, Amy Boyd, Kurt Hansen, Laura Sue Howard, Nathan Wayne Howard, and Steven Wayne Howard; eleven great grandchildren, Kambrie Hansen, Stephen and Andrew Boyd, Macy and Gage Neese, Micah Howard, Colin Howard, Isabella Howard, Landon Howard, Bethany Howard, and Samantha Howard; brother, Harold (Janice) Van Meter, Red Oak, Iowa; numerous nieces and nephews; and the Tarkio Nelson family.

** The family requests masks be worn during the service.**

**The funeral service will be streamed live on Saint John’s Lutheran Church Facebook page.**

Funeral Service: 1:00 P.M., Friday, February 5, 2021, St. John’s Lutheran Church, Westboro, Missouri.

There is no visitation.

Interment: St. John’s Cemetery, Westboro.

Memorials: St. John’s Lutheran Church, St. John’s P.E.T. Program, or St. John’s Cemetery Flag Program, Westboro.

Arrangements: Davis Funeral Home, Tarkio.

www.minterfuneralchapels.com