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 at left 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 in 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; 11 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.

A funeral service was held Friday, February 5, 2021, at St. John’s Lutheran Church, conducted by Rev. Franz Brandenburg and Rev. Richard Pearson. Interment was held at St. John’s Cemetery. Memorials may be directed to St. John’s Lutheran Church, St. John’s P.E.T. Program, or St. John’s Cemetery Flag Program. Online condolences may be left at www.minterfuneralchapels.com. Services were under the direction of Davis Funeral Home, Tarkio.