Emily Howe

Emily Howe was born on June 28, 1909, the daughter of Frank and Emma Shima. Born in rural Johnson County, she lived with her family on a farm by Solon. Emily is the youngest of 8 children. Her siblings were: Mayme, Libby, twins Fred and Frank, Margaret, Stanley and Joe. She was the only surviving sibling. Emily remembers riding in a horse-pulled buggy driven by her mom as part of the family's move from Solon to a farm near Atalissa. They lived there for many years. Emily attended country school in Iowa Township. She met her sweetheart, Earl Howe, and they married on February 15, 1938 at St. Joseph's Church in West Liberty. Together they were blessed with two daughters, Mary Jo (Larry) Ogden of North Liberty and Roxanne Howe-Murphy (Jim) of El Granada, California. Emily has four grandchildren, Mark (Kathy), Scott (Denise) and Pat (Angie) Ogden and Murphy (Bryan) Hart Rowan. Her great-grandchildren are Matt, Lindsey, Owen, Riley, Cody and Casey Ogden, Zachary and Katelynne Rowan. Emily was a homemaker and her life centered on church, family and friends. She was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church where she participated in the Guild. Emily and Earl did manage to visit about half of the contiguous US as well as see the Atlantic and Pacific oceans and the Gulf of Mexico. They belonged to a card club with good friends and took antique classes. In 1977, Earl and Emily moved from the country into their newly built home in Tipton. There she continued to enjoy the outdoors with her flowers and vegetables. She also enjoyed the colorful visitors that would munch at their many bird feeders. Along with Earl, she was a volunteer with Meals on Wheels. Earl and Emily have been a model of love and commitment to their family and friends. Should family or friends so desire, memorials may be made to Cedar Manor Nursing Home in memory of Emily.