Dena Rae Howard, beloved mother, sister and friend, peacefully passed away on Friday, June 11, 2021, at the young age of 74.
Dena was born on July 30, 1946, to Leo and Nell (Hart) Parker in Mitchell County. Dena attended Forsan High School where she graduated in 1964. Dena then married Truman Jackson Howard of Big Spring, Texas on June 12, 1964 in Big Spring. Dena and Jack moved around to various locations until landing at the Corn Ranch in vicinity of Roswell, NM. They adopted Jacky Shay Howard in 1970 and eventually gave birth to Pattie Rae Howard in 1973. The family then moved back to the outskirts of Big Spring in 1974 to Elbow, Texas.
Dena primarily focused her time raising her two children and “mothering” the friends of her children. During that time, she was the artist behind Howard’s Welding & Custom Iron Art. Eventually, she began working as a law enforcement clerk for the Texas Highway Patrol and the Howard County Sherriff’s Office from 1988 to 2007. She was also a member of the Philadelphia Primitive Baptist Church.
Dena is survived by her children: Shay Howard and wife Jamie of Spring Branch, Texas; and Pattie Blakeney and husband O’Brian of Big Spring, Texas; her sister, Dolores Westmoreland and husband, Marco of Hillsboro, Texas; grandson Matthew Blakeney; granddaughters Lynn Rogers and Karsyn and Kamryn Howard; and great-grandchildren Charli and Luke Rogers. She is preceded in death by her parents, Leo and Nell Parker.
A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, June 19, 2021, at 11:00 AM at the First Baptist Church Sand Springs (201 East 24th Street, Big Spring, TX 79720). The family suggests memorials be made to the First Baptist Church Sand Springs.
Arrangements are under the direction of Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home. Online condolences can be made at www.npwelch.com