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Colleen F. Howard passed away at 1:05 a.m. on Aug. 27, 2014, in Goshen, Ind. She had been hospitalized since Wednesday. Her husband, Thomas Lee Howard, was with her at the end.
Colleen was born June 10, 1931 in Elkhart, Ind., the third daughter of William Henry Joseph Farrell and Thelma Beatrice Robertson, of that city. She graduated from Elkhart High School in 1949. She married Horace Garoutte, Jr. on Aug. 31, 1952. They made their home in Bristol, Ind. In 1972, they moved to Bair Lake in Jones. Horace passed away July 13, 1986. Colleen married Thomas Lee Howard on Nov. 3, 2000 in Cassopolis; they resided on Birch Lake in Vandalia.
Colleen was an avid gardener, bird lover, and naturalist; a talented seamstress and craftswoman, with an artistic eye for color and design. She was a devoted wife, mother, aunt and grandmother; a terrific girl scout leader and 4-H mom. She worked as a bookkeeper at Jones Farmers’ Cooperative in Jones, and owned and operated the Hickory Inn Restaurant in Jones for several years.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her first husband; two sisters, Jean (Thomas) Neff of Rapid City and Sheila (Jerry) McCorkle of Auburndale, Fla.; sister-in-law, Joan Garoutte of Tucson, Ariz.; son-in-law, Rodney Hanstine; brother-in-law, Wayne Bradley; two nephews, Richard Willard and William Miller.
She is survived by her husband, Thomas L. Howard of Vandalia; three daughters, Jane Garoutte of Elkhart, Ind., Joan Price of Constantine and Tammy Hanstine of Three Rivers. Also surviving are one sister, Thelma Bradley of Union; brother-in-law, Thomas A. Neff of Kehei, Hawaii; her grandchildren, Jennifer and Rory Long of Jones; Garth Hanstine, Julia Hanstine and Jessie Hanstine, all of Three Rivers. She also leaves behind four great-grandsons, Jaden, Van, Qoie and Taj Long; four beloved nieces and seven nephews.
A celebration of life will be held from 2 to 5 p.m. Sept. 14 at 12664 Hoffman Road in Three Rivers. Donations in memory of Colleen F. Garoutte Howard can be made to Newberg Township Fire and EMS, P. O. Box 257, Jones, MI 49061.
Full obituary available and condolences may be left at www.stemmlawsonpeterson.com.
