Mary Harris Howell, age 86, passed from this life to eternity on Monday, July 22, 2019, at her residence in Akron, Ohio, after an extended illness.

Mary was born in Tuskegee, Alabama on January 6, 1933 and relocated to Cleveland, Ohio in 1943, when her father, William Harris, moved his family from Alabama to Ohio after his employment with the Republic Steel Company.  She attended the Cleveland Public Schools and graduated from East Tech High School in 1950.

Mary met the love of her life, Ralph L. Howell, one day in 1957 at a neighborhood grocery store, where he had gone after visiting some of his relatives in Cleveland.  They dated for a short period of time and then decided to get married.  They remained in matrimony for 62 years until her untimely death.

She was a tireless woman, who cared a lot about her children, grandchildren and other relatives.  Although she was employed full-time with the Akron Board of Education Food Service Dept., she still found time to home school her three children prior to their enrollment at Crouse Elementary School in Akron. Mary retired after 26 years of service.  During her work tenure, she met a lot of good friends and acquaintances.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents, William and Jodie (Grady) Harris; two brothers, Fletcher (Etta) Harris, and Edward Harris; niece, Marsha Harris.

She is survived by her husband, Ralph L. Howell; daughter, Sharon L. Howell; sons, William L.(Sherri) Howell Sr., and Raphael N. (Nancy) Howell; grandsons, William L. Howell Jr., and Dwanye S.K. Howell; granddaughters, Ashley L.D. Howell and Raphaella Howell; great-grandson, Arthur L. Clark Jr.; nieces, Renee Brown and Gail Harris, and other relatives and friends.