Earlene Howell
Earlene Dixon Howell was born March 29, 1924 to John Earl Dixon and Rosa (Henning) Dixon on the family homestead in the Northwest Flats area, north of Guymon. She passed away on May 6, 2022 at Memorial Hospital of Texas County in Guymon at the age of 98.
Earlene was born the fifth child of Earl and Rosa’s seven children. Her grandmother Mary Dixon served as a midwife in the local area for many years. In fact, Mary Dixon served as a midwife for all but one of Earl and Rosa’s children of which all were born at the family homestead.
Earlene attended Eula School (a one-room school) located northwest of the homestead for most of her first eight years of education, except for a short period attending the nearby Lutheran Church School. She then attended Guymon Public Schools, graduating from high school with the Class of 1943.
Earlene requested that her many different employment endeavors not be listed; however, one that deserves recognition is her participation in the effort for World War II as she worked in the Pratt & Whitney aircraft engine factory in Kansas City installing parts on radial aircraft engines. This was a major change for a young girl that rode a horse to school in rural Texas County to riding a public bus to work in urban Kansas City.
She later married Wayne Hinds and returned to Texas County, becoming involved with living a life on a farm after the first two years of marriage residing in Guymon.
To this union two sons were born, Bob Hinds and Kim Hinds. Her devotion to raising her two sons was a major joy in her life.
Later in life Earlene relocated to Guymon to continue raising her youngest son, Kim, to address a new challenge in her life. She wanted to work in a school cafeteria so she could be home with her young son after school, weekends, and summer time.
As it turned out Earlene developed many lasting friendships and memories working with the other ladies. Much moral support was shared as they raised their families. It was not unusual to see Earlene transport young Kim to local area motorcycle races so he could participate along with interacting with other young racers and develop other lasting adult friendships.
Later on in Earlene’s life she married Jim Howell. This opened up a whole new world for her. Jim was part owner in an alfalfa seed business that entailed advising producers in addition to marketing a new variety of seed in the five-state area.
Jim also exposed her to his many friends while attending gem and mineral shows. Earlene exposed Jim to a farm tour in another area of the United States. From then on, they both looked forward to tours which were several.
Over the years she had been active in various organizations: Epsilon Sigma Alpha Sorority (ESA), Red Hatters, and the Friday Night Dinner Club. Also, she was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Guymon for many years. Earlene is survived by: Son - Bob Hinds of Claremore and his family: Chris Hinds and wife, Cindy of Broken Arrow and their daughter Christina Dixon, and husband Brock, and their children Hayes, Harlow and Henley of Broken Arrow; Brent Hinds and wife, Jessica and their children, Joanna and Violet of Tulsa; David Hinds and fiancée Courtney Bales and their son Gabriel, and David’s daughter Alexandra of Verdigris.
Son – Kim Hinds and wife, Suzy of Guymon and their family: Misha Matzek and husband, Jeremy of Arvada,
Colo., and their children Blake (Marlee) Matzek of Broomfield, Colo., and Braden (Tiffany) Matzek both of Westminister, Colo., and their children Greyson Matzek (Blake), Layla and Bella Matzek (Braden). Brett Wilson and wife, Sami and their children, Jordan and Taylee of Edmond.
Sister – Bonnie Winter of Lubbock, Texas.
And many nieces, nephews and friends.
Plus, an indirect family of girls Earlene befriended who refer to her as their second mother and or their other grandma.
Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband
Jim Howell, grandson Tye Hinds; and all of the following: one sister, Kay France (Russell); the four Dixon brothers and their wives, John (Irma), Oral (Charlotte), Gerald (Vonda), Ernest (Joyce), and brother-inlaw Don Winter.
A note about Earlene’s sister-in-laws: She often commented about how fortunate she was to have the sister-in-laws she had. “We were close like sisters; plus, we had many enjoyable times together.”
Close with this quote from writer Alex Haley, “Every time an old person dies, it’s like a library burning down.”
Visitation will be held on Friday from Noon-8 p.m with family receiving friends from 6-8 p.m. at The Henson Novak Funeral Home in Guymon.
Graveside services will be held at Noon on Saturday at Elmhurst Cemetery with Rev. Minwoo Kim & Clark Jett presiding
Funeral Services will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday at The First Presbyterian Church of Guymon with Rev. Minwoo Kim & Clark Jett presiding.
Memorial contributions may be made through the funeral home to the Panhandle Area Sheltered Workshop in Guymon.