Riley Howard, Jr.

Riley Howard, Jr. Funeral service for Riley Howard, Jr., age 70, of Tipton, Oklahoma, was held at 2:00 p.m. Monday, November 23, 2009, at the First Baptist Church, Tipton, Oklahoma, with Rev. Tony Fox and Rev. Harold Gaches, officiating. Mr. Howard died Friday, November 20, 2009, at the Frederick Memorial Hospital. Burial with Air Force Military Honors and Masonic Rites was at the Tipton Cemetery, with Rev. Les Banks, officiating, under the direction of Tipton Funeral Home. He was born on March 1, 1939, to Riley Bailey and Florence (Purcell) Howard in Garvin, Oklahoma. He grew up in Tipton and entered the United States Air Force in February 1957. He served honorably until his discharge in January of 1961. He married Cheryl Sue Fox on February 23, 1978, in Vernon, Texas. He served as the chief of police for Tipton as well as later serving on the Tillman County Sheriff's Department. He was a member of the Frederick Masonic Lodge No. 249, and the First Baptist Church, of Tipton, Oklahoma. He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers: Herschel, Joe Allen, Johnny, Lesley and Stanley Howard; a sister: Betty Glover; a daughter: Stephanie Howard; and granddaughter: Madison McAlister. He is survived by his wife: Sue, of the home; two sons: Randy Howard and wife Janell, of Marshall, Texas, and Mike Howard and wife Mary, of Sallisaw, Oklahoma; three daughters: Beverly Wimberly, of Bossier City, Louisiana, Toni McAlister and husband Chad, of Bixby, Oklahoma, and Kelli Howard, of Tipton, Oklahoma; three brothers: Lloyd Howard and wife June, of Holdenville, Oklahoma, Jimmy Howard, of Gracemont, Oklahoma, Allen Howard and wife Martha, of Tipton, Oklahoma; one sister: Wanda Collins and husband Don, of Elmer, Oklahoma; eleven grandchildren: Steve Wallace of Harrison, Arkansas, Angela Porterfield of Bossier City, Louisiana, Christy Martinez of Shreveport, Louisiana, Becky Howard of Marshall, Texas, Courtney and Logan Merriman, Braxton and Chase McAlister of Bixby, Oklahoma, Brittany, Michael and Jessica Howard of Sallisaw, Oklahoma; and eight great grandchildren.