Obituaries

F.J. Howell Jr.

Photo of F.J.  Howell Jr.
F.J. HOWELL JR., passed away after a lengthy illness on Dec. 28, 2013, in Little Rock. Born to Marguerite Anthony Howell and F. J. Howell Sr., the 22nd of June, 1929, in Little Rock, he attended Little Rock public schools, Little Rock University (now UALR) and the University of Arkansas School of Law at Fayetteville, graduating in 1957. He practiced law with his brother, Senator Max Howell, and good friend, Dale Price, for 25 years, and retired in 1999 after 17 years as a Federal Administrative Law Judge in Little Rock. Survivors include Marian, his much loved wife of 61 years; and three daughters, Linda Butler Bishop (husband Bill) of Little Rock, Nancy Carner (husband Ron) of Merritt Island, Fla., and Gaye Hicks of Fountain Valley, Calif. Also surviving F. J. are six grandchildren, Marian Koehler, Trey Maxwell, Drew Maxwell (wife Amy), Ellen Hicks (husband Dustin Magga), Ronnie Carner, and Randy Carner; three great-grandchildren, Yzabelle Carner, Zayden Magga, and Joseph Maxwell; and his sister, Carmelita Gifford of Three Rivers, Calif. He was predeceased by his parents; two brothers, Max Howell of Little Rock and Otho Howell of Vicksburg, Miss.; and a sister, Ruth Swanson of Knoxville, Tenn. He is also survived by many nieces, nephews and cousins who thought he was "just the best" and kept up with him throughout the years. F. J. stands for Flavius Josephus, the name of his father and a great uncle. Also a name that caused many problems on grammar school playgrounds, and the pronunciation of which could be quite difficult over his 84 years for those dealing with his medical records! He graduated from law school near the top of his class, was Associate Editor of the Law Review, and was the president of his professional fraternity. While in law school, he was inducted into the Omricon Delta Kappa, an honorary scholastic and leadership fraternity. He made lifelong friendships during his years in Fayetteville and continued to stay in touch with those dear friends. He was Exalted Ruler of the North Little Rock Elks Club and belonged to a number of other social and civic organizations. He was a Mason, a Shriner and a Jester. During the Korean War, F. J. served in the 1st Transportation Helicopter Company, the first such company in the Army after the separation of the Air Force in 1946. An attorney mentored by F. J., said that he was a natural as a lawyer - a perfect union of man and profession. In an era before specialization became the norm in law practice, F. J. Howell was the consummate business, commercial and real estate practitioner. He possessed an innate ability to evaluate a legal dispute at its inception; then accurately predict the contingent circumstances and events that would occur far into the future of the case and from that create a highly accurate strategic roadmap for the technical conduct of the litigation. More importantly, he was an eager teacher and mentor to a generation of young attorneys. He not only shared his knowledge of the law itself; but the art of conducting the practice of law. There are many attorneys in practice today, who continue to apply the principles of law practice imprinted upon them by F. J. Howell. And while he enjoyed the legal profession, his true interests were his family, racing sail boats, and restoring and driving old sports cars and motorcycles. He spent many weekends and afternoons working in his garage and always had a project going, taking his last motorcycle ride at age 80 with his oxygen tank by his side. He had many, many friends in these different areas of pursuit and enjoyed and treasured each and every one of them. He loved his family and was crazy about all of his sons-in-law. And he loved his pets. From his first dog, Barron, whose picture still hangs on the wall in his den at home to his beloved 16 year old Golden Retriever and constant companion, Buffy, who is looking forward to playing with him again, to Callie, his kitty cat who survives him – they were all his very best friends. The family would like to thank the wonderful staff at Hospice Home Care in Little Rock without whose caring and kindness, this transition would have been most difficult, as well as Joyce Sims, our dear friend and companion. A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2013, at 2 at Roller Chenal Funeral Home Chapel, 13801 Chenal Parkway, Little Rock, Ark. 72211 (501)224-8300 with visitation prior to the service at 1 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that a memorial be made in his name to the Humane Society of Pulaski County, 14600 Colonel Glenn Road, Little Rock, Ark., 72210. Interment will be at the family cemetery at Pleasant Hill in Lonoke County at a later date. Online guestbook: www.rollerfuneralhomes.com/chenal.

Published December 29, 2013

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