Roy Buford Howell, 87, U. S. Army Veteran and a resident of Memphis with extended family members in the Tippah and Hardeman County areas, departed this life Wednesday afternoon October 25, 2017 at the St. Francis Hospital in Memphis following an illness of several weeks.
Funeral Services, with Military Honors, will be at 2 PM Saturday October 28 in The Heritage Chapel of Ripley Funeral Home with Bro. Doc Shelton of Ripley officiating. Burial will follow in the New Salem Cemetery near Walnut.
Born in Hardeman County on March 10, 1930, Mr. Howell was the son of the late John and Betty Bryant Howell. He received his education the Hardeman County Public School System and proudly served his country in the United States Army from 1951 to 1953. He was married in 1961 to the former Ruby May Ellis who preceded him in death in1993. Mr. and Mrs. Howell resided in Memphis for much of their life where he was employed as a Heavy Equipment Operator for APAC Corporation for over 40 years before his retirement in 1992.
He was affectionately known as “Pa Roy” by the younger members of his family and had a passion throughout his life for fishing. A person with a strong work ethic, Mr. Howell will be remembered as a “story-teller” and an avid conversationalist with “some facts and a whole lot of fiction”.
He was a member of the Hebron Baptist Church, a great fan of TV Wrestling and enjoyed the times shared with his large extended family.
Visitation will be from 11 AM until 2 PM Saturday at The Ripley Funeral Home.
Those left to honor his memory include his children, Brenda Carlisle of Griffin, GA, Debra McLain (Mike) of Williamstown, WV, Lynn Bay (Jeff) of Memphis and Buck Hughes (Denise) of Corinth, his sisters, Brenda Jacobs and Nancy Fleming, fifteen grandchildren, a host of great grandchildren and great great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was also preceded in death by a daughter, Louise Richardson, grand daughter, Tina Pepper and two brothers, Billy and Serlie Howell.
The American Flag at The Ripley Funeral Home entrance honors Mr. Howell and all Veterans for their service to our country…..GOD BLESS AMERICA!!
