MARCIA LYNETTE HOWARD,

75, of Little Rock, Ark. passed away peacefully Sunday, November 15, 2020, at her home in Little Rock, following a long poststroke illness. She is survived by her husband Dr. Gene Howard, and four children: Gina

Farmer and her husband David; Tracey Truby and her husband Chris; Walt Howard and his wife Jordan; Brad Howard and his wife Suzanne; a sister, Jan Jolly; and 13 grandchildren: Adam, Logan and Nathan Farmer; Victor, Max, Zoe and Tess Truby; Jacob and Tatum Howard; Linley and Jack Pierce; and Wright and Wilkes Howard.

Lynette was born in Little Rock, Ark., on December 19, 1945, to Harold and Erma True Wright. She had one younger sister who she was very fond of all of her life. Lynette was a 1963 graduate of Central High School, where she was honored as Miss Campus Choice, a Tiger cheerleader, and a member of National Honor Society, Beta Club and Mu Alpha Theta. Naturally intellectual, Lynette graduated one year early with honors. Lynette married her high school sweetheart, Gene Howard, on her 19th birthday.

Lovely, blonde, and petite, Lynette was a gifted, creative and deep thinker. She worked parttime alongside her dentist-husband as a dental-hygienist for close to forty-five years while she raised their two sons and two daughters. In retirement, she emerged as a master-seamstress, and started a monogramming business out of her home where she created personalized wedding and baby gifts for her friends and family.

Her family remembers their home being filled with the sound of soft, peaceful piano music that Lynette would play by ear. She was a devoted daughter, sister, wife, mother, and grandmother, and loved to be in her own home more than any other place in the world. She was a voracious reader and could often be found on the couch with a good book in her hand.

Her strong faith gave her the strength to bravely persevere through the difficult last seven years of her life on earth. Lynette Howard was passionately loved and deeply admired by her family and friends, and will be dearly missed by them all.

Special thanks to her caregiver, Delena Edelmann, who took care of her along with Lynette’s loving husband, Gene.

The family will receive friends at a visitation from 3 p.m. until 5 p.m. on Sunday, November 22, 2020, at Ruebel Funeral Home, 6313 West Markham St., Little Rock, Ark. 72205.

The funeral service will be held at 1 p.m., Monday, November 23, 2020, at Ruebel Funeral Home Chapel with burial following at Pinecrest Memorial Park Cemetery. Arrangements are entrusted to Ruebel Funeral Home, RuebelFuneralHome.com.