John Floyd Howell

John Floyd Howell of Easton, MD passed away on Wednesday, March 5, 2008. Born May 12, 1921 in Morgantown, WV, he was the son of the late John Pride and May Clear Wells Howell. John graduated from Morgantown High School in 1939 and enjoyed the trip of a life time, working his way across the country and back. He joined the State Police and worked both on the Western and Eastern shores of Maryland. In the late 1940’s he started Hal’s Taxi in Easton, which is how he became fondly known to many people as Hal. He began working for finance companies in the 1950’s and eventually became the manager of East Coast Credit Collections at Sears in Philadelphia. In 1979 he retired from Sears and he and his wife Frances returned to Easton where they purchased Startt’s Grocery and pursued real estate. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus for over fifty years and served as Grand Knight during the building of Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic School. John will be remembered for his passion for sports, enjoyment of gardening, and his love of family history. John was predeceased by his wife of 61 years, the former Frances Taylor, who died February 12, 2006. He is survived by his daughter, Patricia Rasmussen and her husband David of Hopkinton, MA; three grandchildren, Andrea Rasmussen of Manhattan, NY, Christopher Rasmussen of Providence, RI, and Mary Patricia Rasmussen of Brookline, MA. He is also survived by his nephews, Terry Howell of Ruskin, FL and Mark Howell of Elizabethtown, KY; his sister-in law, Margaret Mullikin and her children, Kay Duehrssen and her husband Ray of Easton, MD, Donna Kachura of Edgewater, MD and Robert Mullikin and his wife Robin of Wittman, MD; and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by two brothers, Everette and Archie Howell. A Funeral Liturgy for Mr. Howell will be celebrated on Monday, March 10, 2008 at 1:00 PM at Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church, Easton, MD. Friends may call on Sunday, March 9, 2008 from 2 to 4 PM at Fellows, Helfenbein and Newnam Funeral Home, P.A., Easton, MD. Burial will be at Spring Hill Cemetery, Easton. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Talbot Hospice Foundation, 586 Cynwood Drive, Easton, MD 21601.