Category: Howe News Bulletin

Howe’s own Connections Park is about to begin construction with the excavation project. A groundbreaking celebration is planned for Sunday, September 10, from 3pm-5pm at the park site. All community members are invited.

The groundbreaking celebration will include free hot dogs, free snow cones provided by Chill Out Shaved Ice of Howe, water, and games for the kids. Just bring a lawn chair and your smile!

Connections Park is designed to provide outdoor features for community members of all ages. The park’s features are a large playground, covered pavilion, restrooms, sand volleyball, tennis/pickleball courts, splash pad, a walking path, and a large open space. The park is made possible by funding from Texoma Health Foundation and tennis/pickleball courts funded by Howe ISD. Upon completion, Connections Park will be owned, operated, and maintained by the City of Howe.

Arlie Junior Vineyard, 98, of Howe, Texas went to his Heavenly home September 1, 2023. Arlie was born on December 7, 1924, in Crews Texas, to Orvin and Willie Vineyard. He attended grade school at Clayton School in western Grayson County and was the valedictorian of Howe High School’s graduating class in 1942.

He married the love of his life, Johnnie Nixon Vineyard on January 5th, 1951. This past January they celebrated 72 years of marriage.

Arlie was a hardworking man of impeccable character and integrity. He worked as a farmer, a home builder, and general carpenter, and for Fielder Lumber and Supply in Van Alstyne Texas where he retired in 1995. He and Johnnie also always had a productive vegetable garden that supplied not only their home but the home of many others. He and Johnnie were long-term members of Elmont Baptist Church where he served in several different capacities, including many years leading the church’s youth group and as a Deacon, formally ordained in 1952. Arlie was wise, charitable, and had a great sense of humor. He lived a long and full life of providing well for his family, serving others and honoring the Lord.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and sisters Lynn Thornton, Alma Farrington, and Laverne Simmons, and several nieces and nephews. He is survived by his wife, Johnnie Vineyard of Howe TX, his son, James Vineyard, and daughter-in-law, Debbie Vineyard of Howe TX, 2 granddaughters, Casey (and Roy) Layman and Carolyn (and Josh) Searcey, 8 great grandchildren, 2 great-great-grandchildren, and a very special dog named Buddy.

Services will be held Wednesday, September 6th at Scoggins Funeral Home in Van Alstyne. The family will receive friends from 1-2 p.m., with the service commencing at 2 p.m. Graveside service immediately will follow at Van Alstyne Cemetery. The officiants will be Jim Poole and Roy Layman. Serving as pallbearers will be Ted Morrison, Kent Whitehead, Scott White, Tim Ferguson, Larry Sisemore, Paul Nixon, Josh Searcey, Caleb Searcey.

The family would like to express their deepest gratitude to Hospice Plus, as well as Celebration Senior Living for going above and beyond the call of duty to serve Arlie and our family.

Services are under the direction of Scoggins Funeral Home & Crematory, 637 W. Van Alstyne, Pkwy. Van Alstyne, TX 75495. You may sign the online guest book at www.scogginsfuneralhome.com.

On August 22, 2023, Martha E. Waller of Howe, TX went home to be with her Lord and Saviour. She was born at home in Freemound, TX on Dec. 17, 1929.

She was the youngest child of F.C. and Kate Norman. She was preceded in death by her mother, father, and all of her siblings. She was also preceded in death by her husband, Harold Waller, and son, Jimmie Wormsbaker. She is survived by her son, Gene (Joy)Stevens of Howe, Sharon (Al)Montgomery of Sherman, Debbie (Perry)Brock of Brock, TX, and daughter-in-law Donna Wormsbaker of Howe, TX. She has 7 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.

Services will be held Saturday, August 26, 2023, at 10 a.m. at the Scoggins Funeral Home Chapel in Van Alstyne, TX. A short visitation will follow after the service.

Jennifer Powless, age 50, went home to be with her Lord and Savior on August 17, 2023.

She was born Jennifer Wynne Watson on May 9th, 1973, in Abilene, TX to David Watson and Kay Guerrero. She was raised in Midland until 1987, when she moved to Sherman before finally settling in Howe. Jennifer graduated from Sherman High School in 1991. She played trumpet in the band, a legacy that was continued by her daughters, Kaelen and Kamryn. Jennifer began her lifelong passion for cosmetology while in high school and graduated from Grayson College in 1993. She touched countless lives over the years serving clients at the salon in McKinney and caring for the residents at Beacon Hill. In 1993, she also married her high school sweetheart, Scott Powless, and they recently celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary.

Jennifer is survived by her loving husband, Scott; daughter, Kaelen and husband Benjamin Pierce; daughter, Kamryn Powless; father, David Watson; mother, Kay and stepfather Rudy Guerrero; mother-in-law, Judy Powless; brother, Wes and wife Katie Watson; brother, Xavier and wife Abby Guerrero; stepbrother, Rudy Guerrero III and wife Connie; stepsisters Becky Guerrero; Stacy Guerrero; Amy and husband Frank Runnels. Also left to cherish her memory are numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, brothers and sisters-in-law, co-workers and friends.

She was preceded in death by paternal grandparents, John and wife, Rose Mary Maranjian Watson; maternal grandparents, Jack and wife Odell Bethea Long, Sr.; father-in-law, Ralph Powless, Sr.; uncles J.B. Long and John Glover; sister-in-law Jeri Boulch; and brother-in-law Jimmy Taylor.

Visitation will be held at Scoggins Funeral Home in Van Alstyne, TX on Thursday, August 24th, 2023, from 6pm-8pm.

Celebration of life will be held at First Baptist Church in Howe, TX on Friday, August 25th, 2023, at 2pm with graveside service to immediately follow at Van Alstyne Cemetery.

Officiants will be Brother Roger Tidwell and Wes Robertson.

“And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.”

1 Peter 5:10 ESV

Kenneth “Ken” Edwin Wilson, 84 of Howe left his Earthly home peacefully surrounded by family on Tuesday, August 15, 2023.

Ken was born to Willie “Bill” and Lucy (Lockett) Wilson at home on April 6, 1939, just outside of Van Alstyne. He attended school in Van Alstyne and Howe before graduating from Sherman High School in 1957. The next day, on May 25, 1957, he married his beloved wife, Carolyn Wicks. Carolyn was the daughter of Benjamin and Hazel (Forbus) Wicks formally of Sherman. They had more than 51 years together and four children before the Lord took her on August 28, 2008.

Ken was a proud veteran of the U.S. Army and his service to his country between October 1958 and February 1962 as a Specialist 4, Wheel Vehicle Mechanic. He received his basic training at Fort Carson, Colorado before being stationed in Aberdeen, Maryland where his bride and oldest son, Kenneth, were able to join him before returning to Texas while Ken did a tour at Camp Page, South Korea stationed with the 4th Support Company, the 8th Army.

After leaving the military to rejoin his family in Texas, Ken began his 30-year career with Texas Instruments. He worked in their Dallas, Sherman, and McKinney facilities before retiring. He loved to tell the story of how he was the first employee in the all-new Sherman plant. The responsibility of opening the new plant wasn’t a burden but an honor for him. During the early years of working for T.I., he attended Grayson County College and East Texas State University. He was a Summa Cum Laude honor graduate from both, receiving his A.S. and B.S. in Criminal Justice. He was a member of the Alpha Chi National Honor Scholarship Societies of Texas, Lambda Chapter of ETSU.

After enjoying a bit of retirement Ken went to work for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice at the Beto I Unit in Palestine and the French Robertson Unit in Abilene before transferring to the Choice Moore Unit in Bonham. It was here that Ken was the first employee to retire from the C. Moore Unit four years after it opened.

Ken enjoyed talking about guns, shooting guns, going to casinos, deer hunting, playing 42, traveling, motorcycles, guns, and, of course, guns. He taught his children and grandchildren to enjoy these things as well. He even taught one of his daughter’s friends how to shoot before she joined the Air Force. He was a member of the American Legion Van Alstyne, Texas – James Adams Post 376 and an Endowment Life Member of the National Rifle Association.

He is survived by sons Kenneth Wilson, II and wife, Brenda and David and wife, Betty Wilson all of Howe; daughter Katheryn and husband, Cecil Scott of Bells; daughter-in-law Stacy Williams of Weatherford; grandchildren Tracey Stebbins and husband, Kenneth Stebbins, Jr. and Marissa and husband, Tristan Staley all of Denison, William and wife, Kalinda Wilson of Howe; Nathan and wife, Ashley Wilson of Bells; Meghan Williams of Weatherford and fiancé, Jansen Alker of Decatur, Texas; and ten great-grandchildren.

Ken was preceded in death by his parents, Willie and Lucy Wilson; wife, Carolyn Wilson all formally of Howe; their youngest son, Gary Wilson, formally of Weatherford; and only sibling, sister and brother-in-law, Barbara and Phillip Mudrick, formally of Paris, Tennessee.

Family and friends will gather from 2-2:45 p.m. Saturday, August 19, 2023, at the Scoggins Funeral Home and Crematory at 637 West Van Alstyne Parkway in Van Alstyne. Graveside services with military honors will begin at 3 p.m. at the Van Alstyne Cemetery. David Harrison will officiate. Pallbearers will be Kenneth Wilson II, David Wilson, William Wilson, Nathan Wilson, Cecil Scott, and Kenneth Stebbins, Jr. Honorary pallbearers will be Terry Wilson and James Byers.

Ken’s family wishes to extend their sincere gratitude to the staff at Texoma Medical Center for their care and support these last three months. Condolences may be registered online at www.scogginsfuneralhome.com.