Colleen Elaine Garoutte - Howard

Colleen F. Howard passed away at 1:06 a.m. on August 27, 2014, in Goshen, Indiana. 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, Indiana, the third daughter of William Henry Joseph Farrell and Thelma Beatrice Robertson, of that city. She graduated from Elkhart High School in 1949, where she was enrolled in college preparatory classes, played trombone in band, and was a member of Jr. Academy of Science. She married Horace Garoutte, Jr. on August 31, 1952. Colleen lived for several years in Lafayette and Indianapolis while her husband was attending Purdue University, and later Indiana University School of Dentistry. They made their home south of Bristol, Indiana, where they began raising a family. In 1972, they moved to a farm on Bair Lake in Jones, Michigan. Horace passed away July 13, 1986. Colleen married Thomas Lee Howard on November 3, 2000 in Cassopolis, Michigan.

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 bookkeeper for the IU Medical School in Indianapolis, and later at Jones Farmers’ Cooperative. For several years she owned and operated the Hickory Inn Restaurant in Jones, MI. She loved to travel and made every effort to remain in contact with friends and relatives far and wide. Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren were the lights of her life.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her first husband, and two sisters: Jean Aleisa (Thomas) Neff of Rapid City, Michigan; and Sheila Corrine (Jerry) McCorkle of Auburndale, FL; sister-in-law Joan Garoutte of Tucson, AZ; son-in-law Rodney L. Hanstine; brother-in-law Wayne L. Bradley and a nephew, William Farrell Miller.

She is survived by her husband, Thomas Lee Howard, of Vandalia, MI; three daughters, Jane Anne Garoutte of Elkhart, IN; Joan Elaine Garoutte Price of Constantine, MI; and Tammy Kay (Rodney) Hanstine of Three Rivers, MI. Also surviving are one sister, Thelma Elizabeth (Wayne) Bradley of Union, MI; brother-in-law, Thomas A. Neff of Kehei, HI; brother-in law and sister-in-law, James & Susan Howard of Vandalia; her grandchildren: Jennifer Marie (Conde) & Rory A. Long of Jones, MI; Garth Matthew Hanstine, Julia Elizabeth Hanstine and Jessie Elaine Hanstine, all of Three Rivers, MI. Colleen will also be greatly missed by her great grandsons: Jaden Eric Williamson Long, Van Roin Long, Qoie Indica Conde Long, and Taj River Long, all of Jones, Michigan. Her nieces and nephew will miss her as well. They are: Michael and Beth Neff, of Rapid City, MI; Juan and Pam Neff of Kehei, HI; Janice and Thomas Gard of Cassopolis, MI; Terrance Neff of Coldwater, MI; Jennifer (Neff) Johnson of Kehei, HI; William Bradley of Union, MI; James Bradley of Elkhart, IN; Jeanne and Mark Sheriff of Haines City, FL; Roberta and Larry Strasburg of Three Rivers, MI; Terri (Tracy) Berden of Lafayette, IN; Todd Howard of South Bend, IN and Tom Howard of Middlebury, IN.

A celebration of life will be held from 2 to 5 pm Sunday September 14, 2014, at 12664 Hoffman Road, Three Rivers, Michigan. Donations in memory of Colleen Howard can be made to Newburg Township Fire and EMS, P. O. Box 257, Jones, MI 49061.