Obituary for Wanda Howell
Wanda Maxine (Briley)Howell was the fourth child born to Fred and Ella Briley on October 29, 1929 in Shawnee, Oklahoma during the Great Depression. Times were difficult during her childhood, but their dad and mom worked hard to keep the family with food on the table and a roof overhead. Wanda shared many stories about her older brothers eating first at the dinner table because they helped work in the fields and how her mom would always save some food back for her and her sister because they were growing girls. Wanda was 12 years old when World War 2 began and was in high school when the war ended. Students took care of the many daily chores at home as many fathers were away at the war. They scrapped metal to pay for a bomber plane which used to sit in Fair Park after it was retired from service. She recalled proudly standing on the steps of the old high school cheering as cars drove up and down the highway honking to celebrate Victory Day and the end of the war. Wanda attended Robert E. Lee Elementary School, Childress Junior High and Childress High School.
After graduating from high school in 1947, Wanda and her family traveled to Spirit Lake, ID to visit her dad's brother who had been away during the war. It was there she met her husband, Archie Gilbert Howard. The two married on January 18, 1948 and returned to Childress in 1949. They had two children, Cindy Ella born on November 29, 1950 and Mickey Shane born on September 1, 1967. Archie began work at the railroad shortly after Cindy's birth as an electrician and worked until the railroad shop in Childress closed. During this time, Wanda attended nursing school and graduated on October 8, 1965 and began a lifelong career which she loved in nursing. She was a nurse in the old hospital, at Fox Clinic, then Fox Rural Health Clinic at the new Childress Regional Medical Center. Wanda loved caring for people and almost all that knew her were aware that nursing was much more than a vocation but something she truly loved and felt called to do.
Wanda accepted Christ when she was 12 while attending Vacation Bible School at the First Assembly of God and later joined the Bible Baptist Church where she attended for many years. She then joined the First Baptist Church in the early 1970s where she was an active member until her health no longer allowed her to attend services in person. She served as a Sunday School teacher in the 3rd and 4th grade class for many years as well as the nursery and kitchen helper for Vacation Bible School numerous years as well. During Wanda's later years as a homebound member and during her stay at Childress Healthcare Center, Wanda remained faithful to listen to Sunday morning services over the FBC's radio broadcast ministry and greatly appreciated how this allowed her to remain connected to the church she loved.
Alongside her church and nursing, Wanda's greatest love was family. Wanda and Archie had been for 59 years at the of Archie's death on March 12, 2007. She often remarked in later years how much she missed him and how ready she was for heaven to see him, her parents and a host of other relatives and friends. Wanda was also proceeded in death by brothers F.C. and Richard Briley and sisters Helen Beth and Mary Josephine Briley.
Wanda was lovingly cared for by her daughter Cindy Frost of Childress who in later years lived with her prior to transfer to Childress Healthcare Center. Cindy was assisted and supported by her sons Jeff Frost of Childress, his wife Marci and children Colton and Bre'Anna; Matt Frost of Wichita Falls and his children Kaiden and Brycen; Colby Frost of Seymour and his daughter Chays. Wanda was also cared for and loved by her son Mickey Howell of Haslet who was supported by his extended family including partner Jeremy Phillips, and his adopted children Taylor, Paul, Ashleigh and Kaitlynn all of Canyon, TX. Many loving friends supported the family in Wanda's care, but they are especially grateful for Carol McClendon and Gracie Anderson who were faithful to provide many years of visits and laughter and support.
The family also recognizes the doctors, nurses and staff of Fox Rural Health Clinic, Childress Regional Medical Center, CRMC Home Health and Hospice and Childress Healthcare Center for their wonderful care and support of Wanda over the years until her heavenly mansion was ready.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the First Baptist Church of Childress Radio Ministry, the Childress Regional Medical Center Hospice or a charity of your choosing as Wanda firmly believed in giving to others to make sure the needs of the greater community and those she loved were met.
After graduating from high school in 1947, Wanda and her family traveled to Spirit Lake, ID to visit her dad's brother who had been away during the war. It was there she met her husband, Archie Gilbert Howard. The two married on January 18, 1948 and returned to Childress in 1949. They had two children, Cindy Ella born on November 29, 1950 and Mickey Shane born on September 1, 1967. Archie began work at the railroad shortly after Cindy's birth as an electrician and worked until the railroad shop in Childress closed. During this time, Wanda attended nursing school and graduated on October 8, 1965 and began a lifelong career which she loved in nursing. She was a nurse in the old hospital, at Fox Clinic, then Fox Rural Health Clinic at the new Childress Regional Medical Center. Wanda loved caring for people and almost all that knew her were aware that nursing was much more than a vocation but something she truly loved and felt called to do.
Wanda accepted Christ when she was 12 while attending Vacation Bible School at the First Assembly of God and later joined the Bible Baptist Church where she attended for many years. She then joined the First Baptist Church in the early 1970s where she was an active member until her health no longer allowed her to attend services in person. She served as a Sunday School teacher in the 3rd and 4th grade class for many years as well as the nursery and kitchen helper for Vacation Bible School numerous years as well. During Wanda's later years as a homebound member and during her stay at Childress Healthcare Center, Wanda remained faithful to listen to Sunday morning services over the FBC's radio broadcast ministry and greatly appreciated how this allowed her to remain connected to the church she loved.
Alongside her church and nursing, Wanda's greatest love was family. Wanda and Archie had been for 59 years at the of Archie's death on March 12, 2007. She often remarked in later years how much she missed him and how ready she was for heaven to see him, her parents and a host of other relatives and friends. Wanda was also proceeded in death by brothers F.C. and Richard Briley and sisters Helen Beth and Mary Josephine Briley.
Wanda was lovingly cared for by her daughter Cindy Frost of Childress who in later years lived with her prior to transfer to Childress Healthcare Center. Cindy was assisted and supported by her sons Jeff Frost of Childress, his wife Marci and children Colton and Bre'Anna; Matt Frost of Wichita Falls and his children Kaiden and Brycen; Colby Frost of Seymour and his daughter Chays. Wanda was also cared for and loved by her son Mickey Howell of Haslet who was supported by his extended family including partner Jeremy Phillips, and his adopted children Taylor, Paul, Ashleigh and Kaitlynn all of Canyon, TX. Many loving friends supported the family in Wanda's care, but they are especially grateful for Carol McClendon and Gracie Anderson who were faithful to provide many years of visits and laughter and support.
The family also recognizes the doctors, nurses and staff of Fox Rural Health Clinic, Childress Regional Medical Center, CRMC Home Health and Hospice and Childress Healthcare Center for their wonderful care and support of Wanda over the years until her heavenly mansion was ready.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the First Baptist Church of Childress Radio Ministry, the Childress Regional Medical Center Hospice or a charity of your choosing as Wanda firmly believed in giving to others to make sure the needs of the greater community and those she loved were met.