Helyn Elizabeth Mears Howard

Helyn Elizabeth Mears Howard, 94, passed away June 2, 2009, at her home in Lexington, Ky., after a long illness. She was born April 8 in Greenfield, Ill., the daughter of Hattie Elizabeth Pittenger and George R. Mears, and was graduated from Greenfield High School. On October 1, 2008, Mears and her husband, Marsh R. Howard celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary. Her giving and loving spirit was expressed in her work, her community service, and her family and friends. She was graduated in 1936 from the St. Joseph Hospital School of Nursing in Alton, Ill. As an orthopedic nurse at Toledo Hospital for 20 years, she cared for thousands of patients, including four of the survivors of the California Polytechnic Institute football team after their plane crashed on take-off at the Toledo airport. In Sylvania, where she lived for 57 years, she was a primary organizer in the establishment of a kindergarten in the community, two years before it became a part of the public school curriculum. She was always available to use her nursing skills and her knowledge as a volunteer and to help her friends. In the Sixties she made several medical mission trips to Haiti. Mears and Marsh traveled extensively, making dear friends throughout the world in Scotland, England, Greece, Japan and Australia. They also enjoyed traveling with friends, and as often as possible were on hand for important celebrations in the lives of their family and dear friends. In addition to her husband, Marsh, she is survived by her daughter, Elizabeth Demoran, Lexington, Ky., and her daughter-in-law, Nancy Howard, Bonita Springs, Fla.; grandchildren Laura Joe Shucart, Wentzville, Mo., Greg Robyn Howard, Savannah, Ga., Tom Howard, Las Vegas, Nev., Scott Howard, Toledo, Ohio, Doug Becky Howard, Toledo, Ohio, and Chris Kelly Howard, Wentzville, Mo., Craig Demoran, Lexington, Ky., and Joyce Moore, Lexington, Ky.; great grandchildren Megan, Stephen and Blake Shucart, Wentzville, Mo., Lauren Howard, Bradenton, Fla., Justin and Brittany Jones and Eric and Ali Howard, Toledo, Ohio, Dalton Moore, Lexington, Ky., and Peyton and Christian Howard, Wentzville, Mo. Son, M. Robert Howard Jr., passed away Oct. 26, 2002. A memorial celebration will be held July 10 at 10:30 a.m. at the Sylvania First United Methodist Church. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Hospice of the Bluegrass, 2312 Alexandria Dr., Lexington KY 40504, Sylvania First United Methodist Church, 7000 Erie St., Sylvania OH 43560; UK Body Bequeathal Program, Office of Development, Lexington KY 40506 or charity of your choice.