Funeral homes often submit obituaries as a service to the families they are assisting. However, we will be happy to accept obituaries from family members pending proper verification of the death.
Violet Florena Howard began her life in Roseburg, Ore., on Dec. 18, 1925, the fourth child of Rosanah Jane (Murr) and Christopher Columbus Gunter. Her mother passed away when she was 10, so Violet went to live with her eldest sister, Nona Barnekoff, in Bandon, Ore., a place she would call home for the next 78 years.
In 1944, she graduated from Bandon High School. Violet married James W. Howard on Aug. 10, 1946, following his discharge from the United States Army. Together they raised a family of three children in Prosper, Ore. On Feb. 3, 1989, Violet became a widow after 43 years of marriage.
As a young child, Violet attended the Baptist Church in Bandon and was baptized in 1955 at St. John’s Episcopal Church. For many years, she worked as a valued employee at Western Bank. Violet loved being with her friends and family, hiking, playing games, and puttering around in her yard. She loved gardening—whether it be berries, flowers or garlic.
In October of 2013, Violet moved north to The Dalles, Ore., to live with her youngest daughter and be closer to extended family. Her everyday life became lovingly interwoven with the lives of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Her greatest joy in life was spending time with her beloved family.
On June 24, 2018, surrounded by her children, the Lord called Violet to her heavenly home. She was preceded in death by husband, James W. Howard, Sr.; sisters, Nona Barnekoff and Irene Johnston, brother Elbert Gunter, son-in-law Michael Morris, and faithful pup Mindy. She is survived by daughters Susan (Tom) Pipkins of Cusick, Wash., and Phyllis Morris of The Dalles; son James W. Howard, Jr. of Salem, Ore.; grandchildren Melanie (Mark) Hansen, Aaron Pipkins, Heidi (William) Byers, Travis Pipkins, Kimberly (Joshua) Cox, and Jaime (Rene) Chavez; and great-grandchildren Clara, Gabriel, Ashton, Annah, Jadyn, Kayla, Mia, Shelby, Nathan, Keaton, Adalee, and Liam.
A graveside memorial service will be held on Aug. 4, 2018, at 11 a.m. at the Bandon IOOF Cemetery.
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