Obituary
Memorial services for Karen Howard, 76, of Portales will be held on Mar. 31, 2023 in the Wheeler Mortuary Chapel. Exact details are not available at this time.
Karen Lee Howard was born July 6, 1946, to the home of Erva Jean (Hanson) and Leroy Kear, in Clayton, NM and died Mar. 8, 2023 in Amarillo, TX after a lengthy illness. On Feb. 15, 1974, she was married to Leroy Howard. The they moved several times, but in 2020, they settled in Portales to be close to their son and his family. One of the places that the Howards lived was Springer, NM. During the time they lived there Mrs. Howard was the Dietary Supervisor at Colfax Long Term facility for nearly 20 years. However, for most of her lifetime Mrs. Howard was a homemaker. Mrs. Howard really enjoyed being at home with her family. For recreation she enjoyed traveling with her husband, crocheting and doing jigsaw puzzles.
She is survived by Leroy, her husband of 49 years of Portales; two sons and daughters-in-law, Steven and Michelle Howard of Portales and James and Laurie Howard of Bay Town, TX; five daughters and two sons-in-law, Marlene and Tom Cox of Orange, TX, Ardis Sosa of Tucson, AZ, Stephanie Reeser of Craig, CO, Stacey and Anthony Esquibel of Bizmark, ND and Susan Howard of Portales; 16 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren and another expected shortly; three sisters, Nancy Davis of Albuquerque, Marcey Edmonson of Raton, NM and Melissa Allen of Carsbad, NM; as well as a number of other family members and friends. Mrs. Howard was preceded in death by her parents and three sisters, Jan Kuhlman, Cindy Burns and Skusie Herman.
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Karen Lee (Kear) Howard, please visit our floral store.
Services
Wheeler Mortuary Chapel
500 E Third St
Portales, NM 88130
