Osa Lenore Howard

Lenore Howard, 82, of Williamsburg, passed away following a long illness Saturday, January 13, 2018, at Olathe Medical Center surrounded by her family. Family will meet with friends from 1:00 P.M. to 2:00 P.M., Saturday, January 20, 2018 at Williamsburg United Methodist Church. Memorial services will be held immediately following at 2:00 P.M. at the church. Inurnment Mt. Hope Cemetery, Williamsburg. Osa Lenore was born Thursday, August 1, 1935 in Ottawa, Kansas. She was one of five children born to Silas Adam Veix and Edith Catherine (Caleb) Veix. She was a graduate from Ottawa High School with the class of 1953. She also attended Haskell Indian College in Lawrence, Kansas. In 1972, Lenore married Donald “Bus” Howard and they were together until his death on September 28, 2001. She worked as a hospital nurse’s aide before becoming a stay-at-home mother and housewife. After her marriage to Bus Howard she worked at the Iowa Beef Processing Plant in Emporia, while they maintained a ranch in Strong City, Kansas. They moved to Bonner Springs for several years where she became a very proud member of the International Union of Operating Engineers. Following her retirement, she moved to Williamsburg to continue her love of raising horses and cattle that she called “her pets” until her death. While living in Williamsburg, she was an active member of the United Methodist Church. Lenore loved to fish and was especially fond of her irises and beautiful peonies. Lenore is survived by son, Michael “Mick” Melvin of Iola; four daughters, Julie Fox of Vassar, Susan Wilkinson of rural Princeton, Carol Jones of Williamsburg, and Kathy Arnold of Gardner; two stepsons, Rick Howard of Williamsburg and Mike Howard of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; stepdaughter, Karen Howard Rodriguez of Dallas, Texas; seventeen grandchildren; and nineteen great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, Silas Adam and Edith Catherine Veix; three brothers, USAF Captain George L. Veix, Raymond A. Veix and Edwin B. Veix; and sister, Zelda Veix Marks. All were members of the Munsee-Delaware Indian Nation in Ottawa, Kansas. The family suggests memorial contributions to Williamsburg United Methodist Church c/o Dengel & Son Mortuary, 235 S. Hickory, Ottawa, Kansas 66067. Family and friends are encouraged to post their condolences and memories on Lenore’s Tribute Wall at www.dengelmortuary.com