SUMNER, Ill. — Mabel L. Howard, 92, of Sumner, Ill., passed away on Monday, February 19, 2018, at the Lawrence County Memorial Hospital in Lawrenceville, Ill.

She was born on February 2, 1926, in Vester, Ky., the daughter of Drurry T. and Clara (Cowans) Bryant. She married Lloyd Howard on February 2, 1946, and he preceded her in death on May 2, 2003.

In her earlier years, Mabel worked at the Shoe Factory, in Olney, Ill., and Suttle Apparatus, in Lawrenceville. She was a homemaker and devoted her life as a minister’s wife in the Evangelical United Brethren Conference, which later became the Southern Illinois Conference of the United Methodist Church. Mabel was also a very devoted mother and opened her home to many family members and people in need. For many years she was a member of the Union Chapel United Methodist Church and in the later years, she became a member of the Sumner United Methodist Church.

Preceding her in death were her parents; husband, Lloyd; six brothers, Welby Donald Bryant, James Bryant, Joseph Bryant, Bobbie Bryant, Marion Bryant, and Marn Bryant; one sister, Geneva Giles; and one great-granddaughter.

Survivors include three sons, Winston Howard and wife, Diana, of Oblong, Ill., Eugene ‘Gene’ Howard and wife, Janet, of Olney, Ill., and Darrell Howard and wife, Treva, of Clinton, Ill.; two daughters, Janet Lytis and husband, Tony, of Greenwood, Ind., and Marty Anderson and husband, Allen, of Columbus, Ind.; four brothers, Arvil Bryant and wife, Della Faye of Franklin, Ind., Jackie Bryant and wife, Barbara, of Trafalgar, Ind., Willard Bryant and wife, Sandra, of Columbia Ky., and Alvin Bryant of Columbia, Ky.; one sister, Louise Heath and husband, Mike, of Sumner, Ill.; eight grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; seven step-grandchildren; and seven step-great-grandchildren.

Funeral services were conducted on Saturday, February 24, 2018, at the Sivert-Macey & Steffey Funeral Home in Sumner. 

Please visit www.emmonsmaceysteffey.com to view the tribute and to send condolences.