Mary A. Howard

Mary was born on January 15, 1939 in Channing, MI, to the late Harold and Hattie (Westman) Steele. She married, Theodore W. “Ted” Howard, on May 12, 1956, in Marquette and had been a lifelong Skandia area resident.

Mary was employed at the K.I. Sawyer Dining Hall and Commissary for 20 years. She was also a volunteer at Nifty Thrifty in Eben, MI and provided and made the coffee for the Skandia Community Center. She enjoyed volunteering her time where it was needed and helping others.

Mary enjoyed reading cookbooks, cooking, gardening and going to rummage sales. She loved her family and cherished her time spent with her grandchildren. Mary was a member of Community Covenant Church in Skandia.

Mary is survived by her daughter, Rose (Doyle Morton) Howard of Skandia; grandchildren, Jeston (Sharise) Smith of Indiana and Aaron (Kerrie) Smith of Negaunee; great-grandchildren, Allie (John) Denver, Auston Smith, Alec Smith and Joshua Smith; sister-in-law, Joanne Smith; brothers-in-law, Richard and Robert Howard and Peter David and Billy Joe Howard; special nieces and nephews, Phyllis Johnson, Carley Johnson, Dillan Johnson, Robin Brown, Butch Peterson, Chucky Peterson, Linda Hammond, Susan Wakkuri, Chris Barry, Ray Havnen, Frank Steele, Libby Kruse, Paul Dobson, Mike Dobson, Steven Dobson, Mark Bodenus, Ann Pirtle, George Bodenus, Jr., Gary Bodenus and Leonard Bodenus; as well as numerous other nieces and nephews.

Besides her parents, Mary was preceded in death by her husband, Ted Howard; son, Kenneth Howard; and her siblings, Betty Lou Havnen, David “Buddy” Steele, Lorraine Peterson, Patsy Dobson, Jake Steele, Beaver Steele and Kathleen Bodenus.

A memorial service will be held on September 16, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. in the Community Covenant Church in Skandia with Rev. Todd Spranger officiating.

Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service in the church and a luncheon will be provided following the service. Burial will take place in the Emanuel Lutheran Church cemetery.

Canale Gwinn Funeral Home and Cremation Services is assisting Mary’s family, where memories and condolences may be shared at canalefuneral.com.