Mary Opal Orr Howell, 91, passed away peacefully at Baptist Hospital on Monday, January 22, 2018. Born August 12, 1926, in Arkansas, she was the daughter of the late Jessie Cleland Orr and the late Ollie Conner Orr. Ms. Opal attended Pleasant Hill School, and was a member of Mt. Herman Primitive Baptist Church. She was retired after working for many years at Calhoun Health Services in Calhoun City. In her free time, she loved to work crossword puzzles and tend to her garden. She was also known to be a wonderful cook, and very talented with a sewing needle. Above all things, Ms. Opal loved her family the most. Spending time with her grandkids and great-grandkids brought much joy to her life. She will be remembered for her sweet nature and loving heart, and she will be deeply missed by her family and friends.
Pryor Funeral Home is honored to be serving the family.
A funeral service celebrating her life will be held Thursday, January 25, 2018, at 1:00pm at Pryor Funeral Home. There will also be a visitation on Wednesday, January 24, 2018 from 5:00pm until 7:00pm at the funeral home. Elder Calvin Warren and Elder Rusty Wise will be officiating. Interment will follow at Oak Springs Cemetery in Derma.
Pallbearers will be Wayne Stone, Jeff Howell, Bradley Howell, Will Howell, Mike Howell, and Jaron Howell. Honorary Pallbearers will be Grover Edington, Tom Reedy, Jimmy Blaylock, Wayne Doler, Kelly Moore, Jonathon Howell, and Justin Howell.
She leaves behind a daughter, Marcell (Kenneth) Stone of Calhoun City; two sons, Stanley (Sandra) Howell of Raymond, MS, and Jimmy (Jo) Howell of Calhoun City; two sisters, Ruth Hodge of Clinton, MS, and Bonnie (Ladurale) Doler of Slate Springs; one brother, Harvey Dan (Annette) Orr of Bruce; eight grandchildren, Wayne (Nikie) Stone, Calhoun City, Jeff Howell, Raymond, MS, Laura Howell, Gunnersville, AL, Mike Howell, Raymond, MS, Jonathon (Patricia) Howell, Baltimore, MD, Justin (Jenna) Howell, Louisville, KY, Jaron (Emily) Howell, Charlotte, NC, and Bradley (Andria) Howell, Bruce; and 10 great-grandchildren, Lylla, Will, Lilly, Heath, Evan, Lawson, Lila, Dean, Arianna, and Cassidy. Also a very special niece, Kay Reedy.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Willie Earl Howell; one son, Jessie W. “Bill” Howell; a brother, J.C. Orr; and a sister, Eloise McFall.
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