La Jaun Howell

La Jaun Howell, 90, of Huckabay passed away Sunday December 16, 2012 in Fort Worth. Services will be held in her memory on Wednesday December 19, 2012 at 2:00 PM at Stephenville Funeral Home. She will be laid to rest next to her husband in the Huckabay Cemetery. The family welcomes you to a time of visitation to be held Tuesday from 6:00-8:00 PM at the funeral home. On April 29, 1922 La Jaun E. Matthews was born to her parents, Jessie Carolyn (Janes) Matthews and Robert J. Matthews in Copperas Cove, Coryell County, Texas. She was the third of five siblings, all of whom preceded her in death. Her family moved to Ranger, Texas, where La Jaun attended elementary school and later met the man who would become her lifelong partner and companion, G. W. Howell (deceased June 12, 2002). The couple married and together raised their five children; Norman W. Howell, Dorothy L. (Howell) Surratt, Joyce A. (Howell) Stoker, Fred W. Howell, and Larry D. Howell. After La Jaun's husband returned home from military duty in 1945, the couple purchased a farm in Erath County and resided there for 25 years during which La Jaun worked at various jobs to aid in the support of their growing family. She was employed by the WPA following the war years and worked as a sales clerk at a retail store for a short while. Most of her working years, she worked as a machine operator in several sewing factories. In 1960 La Jaun and G. W. moved to Huckabay, Texas and were very involved with the church and community until G. W. was diagnosed with lung cancer in 1998. The couple decided to sell their home in Huckabay and move to Weatherford to live near two of their older children. After 66 years of marriage G. W. succumbed to cancer leaving La Jaun a widow. It was only a short three years before La Jaun was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease and was moved to a nursing facility in Fort Worth specializing in the care and treatment of Alzheimer's patients. Although her husband and three sons preceded her in death, La Jaun is survived by her daughter, Joyce Stoker and husband Jim, of Longview, Texas, and her other daughter, Dorothy and husband J.B. Surratt, of Crowley, Texas. La Jaun had 13 grandchildren, Ricky Howell Sr., Debbie Childers, Tammy White, Tad Stoker, Kevin Stoker, Linda Fustin, Joyce Ann Terry, Crystal Berry, Paul Surratt, Norman Surratt, Sandra Nichols and Stephen Howell. She is also survived by numerous great grandchildren; and several great-great grandchildren. She will be remembered for her red hair and blue eyes, strong family values, contagious laughter, and lasting friendship. The world is a better place as a result of her life, and she will be greatly missed.