Category: Howe News Bulletin

A Howe citizen informed the city on Tuesday morning of damage to Summit Gardens wedding and event venue. A vehicle drove through the shrubs and damaged the historic 1893 former First Christian Church which was recently renovated as an event venue operated by the Howe Development Foundation. The structure is owned by the City of Howe and was dedicated to the city in 1982.

Howe Police Sergeant Keith Milks responded to the scene to gather information on the hit-and-run. The investigation is ongoing.

Like everything else in the world, adjustments had to be made to the annual Veterans Day Program by the Howe High School National Honor Society. Instead of a recognition, a parade has been planned.

Any veteran that would like to participate in the parade email Natalie McCall at mccall.natalie@howeisd.net or call Howe High School office at 903-745-4400.

The veterans will be driving in a car parade that begins at Summit Hill and will go to each campus. Students will line their campus to show their appreciation to the Veterans. Parents and other spectators are asked to not watch the parade from any of the four campuses but to instead line up along the parade route.

The veterans will line-up beginning at 9 am on November 11 at Summit Hill Elementary. The parade will start at 9:30 and route from Summit Hill Elementary to Haning Street from Collins Freeway.  From Haning Street, the parade will turn right on King Street to Beatrice Street alongside the middle school to see the students from both the middle and intermediate schools.  The parade will turn left on Duke Street to Highway 5 and will then travel straight to Howe High School where it will enter the southernmost parking lot of the campus.  The parade will end by going directly in front of the main entrance of the high school.

John Vinson Cherry made his way home to his Heavenly Savior on October 26, 2020. John was born on January 26, 1956, at Walter Reed Army Hospital in Washington D.C. to US Air Force Sgt. Joel Lee Cherry and Martha Ann Vincent. He was raised growing up as a traveling military family spending his childhood in El Paso, Texas, and Springfield, Missouri later graduating a proud Viking from Parkview High School in 1974. Soon after, in 1979, Mr. Cherry moved his family to the Texoma area. He worked as a sheet metal fabricator and then as a security officer at L.O.F. and Midway Mall. It was during that time that he found his passion for serving and protecting his community.

Mr. Cherry graduated from the Texoma Regional Police Academy in October 1988. He began his law enforcement career serving the cities of Sherman, Pottsboro, and Denison before finding his home at the Howe Police Department in 1992. During his 20 years of service to the City of Howe, he rose through the ranks to become Chief of Police in 2005 until he medically retired in December 2012. Some of his proud accomplishments were obtaining his Master Peace Officer License and attending the Bill Blackwood Law Enforcement Management Institute of Texas, facilitating grants for many of the police department training, equipment, and community Texoma National Night Events, and mentoring officers. Mr. Cherry loved being a Police Officer. It was his calling in life and his way to minister to those in need for over 23 1/2 years.

When not in uniform, Mr. Cherry still found ways to serve his community through Texoma Emmaus, Boy Scouts of America, and his local church. Over the years, he was an active member of Christ Church Cathedral in Sherman, First United Methodist Church of Howe, and Community Bible Fellowship in Howe. Later in life his love of God, ancient church history, and theology allowed him to briefly attend seminary, he then went on to become a North Texas United Methodist Registered Lay Speaker. In 2006, John attended the Texoma Emmaus Walk #54 and later served as Lay Director on Walk #88. It was his honor to minister that weekend through one of his favorite scriptures “Blessed are the Peacemakers for they shall be called “Sons of God” Matthew 5:9. He has many reunion brothers but especially the friendship grateful for Brian Gaskill, David Buechler, Bruce Evans. For many years, he served as the Troop 45 Scouting Charter Organization Representative, Religious Emblem Coordinator, Texoma Valley District Commissioner, Youth Protection Training Officer, during that time he earned the TVD Unit Award of Merit, and attended WoodBadge Leadership Training. He also throughout his life enjoyed coaching his children’s sports teams, bowling and even winning tournaments at the championship levels, playing adult league softball, playing the drums for relaxation, and in church when needed, he enjoyed listening to classic rock and was a woodcarver.

Mr. Cherry was proceeded in death by his maternal grandparents Roy and Vivian Vinson, paternal grandparents Warren and Doreen Cherry, parents Joel and Martha Cherry, and sister Barbara Fretwell.

He is survived by his wife Carolyn, son Samuel Cherry and fiancé Kaylee Dwyer, daughter Sophie Cherry all of Howe, TX. Son Timothy Cherry, daughter Christine Cherry and their mother Debbie Crabtree of Sherman, TX. Daughter Sarah Warren and husband Michael of Sherman, TX. Sister Shannon Hicks of Denison, TX. In-laws-in-love Mike and Nelda Edwards of Sherman, TX. Brothers-in-law Eddie Moore of Houston, TX, Steve Moore of Rosharon, TX, Tim and wife Angela Berry of Mounds, OK, Chris and wife Sharon Edwards of Saginaw, TX. Along with numerous nieces, nephews, numerous friends especially childhood friend Skip Steiger and his Brothers and Sisters in Blue.

Memorial Service will be held at Community Bible Fellowship Church in Howe on Saturday, November 7, 2020, at 11:00 AM with Jesse Farrer, Jeremy Moore, and Tom Medley officiating. Family and friend’s visitation will be held from 5:00 to 7:00 PM Friday, November 6 at Scoggins Funeral Home in Van Alstyne. The family would like to invite all to attend a fellowship meal immediately following. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of John Vinson Cherry please visit our Tribute Store.

Howe- Frankie Miriam Cole was born the youngest of 5 children to Frank and May Cole on August 15th, 1927 in Dallas, TX. She moved with her parents to Van Alstyne, TX for her freshman year of high school in 1940. While in high school she was a Majorette and participated in the Choral Club. She loved to sing and dance and was always ready to have fun.

George Cavender moved to Van Alstyne in 1942 during his junior year. Frankie introduced herself to George during study hall and they dated their junior and senior year and both attended the Methodist Church in Van Alstyne. Frankie’s parents owned Cole Chicken Hatchery there and she lived with them in an apartment above it. Because George didn’t own a car, the two of them would sit in her parents’ 1937 Chevrolet Coupe outside the hatchery until her dad would call her up.

After graduation, George went into the Merchant Marines. He and Frankie corresponded and George asked her to marry him while he was in on leave. George was stationed in New Orleans for a time, and he purchased an engagement ring there and had it mailed to Frankie to confirm his intentions. Once WWII was over and George came home, the two were married at the Methodist parsonage by Pastor W. L. Vail on October 27, 1945. After the wedding, they started their home at the house where George was born, on the Brooks place west of Howe.

George and Frankie moved their membership to the Methodist Church of Howe in 1949, where she served for many years overseeing the children’s department and children’s choir and singing in the adult choir. The church has remained a large part of their lives and the friendships made there have enriched their lives.

Frankie worked at Pevetos Furniture and Texas Instruments before devoting all of her efforts to raising their four children, Karon, Lynn, Chris and Kay. Frankie ran their household and participated in the children’s education by taking them to music lessons, cub scouts, sports, 4-H and FFA events, and church. She was a faithful wife and mother. After Karon was involved in a life-changing wreck, Frankie devoted her time to her rehabilitation until the time of Karon’s death in 2003.

Frankie passed on hers and George’s 75th wedding anniversary. She leaves George behind, as well as her children Lynn Cavender and his wife Brenda, Chris Cavender and his wife Laura and Kay Mills and her husband Tony, nine grandchildren, thirteen great-grandchildren and three great, great grandchildren.

The family received friends from 2:00-3:00 PM Thursday, October 29 at the First Methodist Church of Howe. The funeral began at 3:00 PM and burial followed at Hall Cemetery.

The registry book can be signed online at waldofuneralhome.com.

The City of Howe is applying for a grant to makeover Memorial Park on Highway 5. In order to qualify, community support must be achieved and the city is reaching out to community members for input and support of the needed grant. Those willing to help can please fill out the questionnaire below by clicking on the link.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/5NLTP88