James "Jim" Arthur Howland

James “Jim” Arthur Howland passed away on October 7, 2016. He was born on November 11, 1946 to Curtis Howland and Josephine Reeves in Granite City, IL who preceded him in death. He graduated from Pleasant Hill High School where he played baseball and football. He was a skilled guitar player, liked a good poker game and could tell a damn funny story. He lived his entire adult life in Eolia, MO with his wife Shirley Welch who took good care of him to the very end. They were married on June 17, 1964 and spent 52 years together through many difficult times including the passing of their son, Michael “Clay” Howland in 2003. Jim tried to make the holidays special for his kids and one year spent hours building an elaborate train and race car table for his son. He is survived by his sister, Linda Webb who he tortured routinely in their early years; his daughter Lesley Young, her husband Todd, their two children Olivia and Sophie; and Clay’s children Alice and Lucas James Howland. Jim spent his entire career working at the Hercules plant (now Dyno-Nobel), for 44 years total, retiring in 2009. He started at the bottom and worked his way up to Maintenance Foreman, earning the respect of his fellow workers. His keen understanding of mechanics helped him solve many problems. Jim was a devoted Packer fan even during their losing seasons and he passed on his enthusiasm to his daughter, grandkids and family friend, Tara Tucker who is now a Packer fan for life. He learned to be a pitcher for fast pitch softball and played a lot of games, up to five in one day during tournaments. He used what he learned to teach others and coached his daughter’s Khoury League team where his rules included “no cursing, yelling at umps and no chewing tobacco”. He was not a world traveler, nor a social butterfly but he made a lasting, and positive, impact on those who knew him. He always helped others when he could and his calm demeanor (most of the time) made him an endearing husband, father, friend, coach and coworker. Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday, October 10, 2016 at the Collier Funeral Home in Louisiana, Missouri. Private burial services will be held at a later date. The family asks in lieu of flowers, that donations be made to the Eolia Cemetery Association in care of the funeral home.

James "Jim" Arthur Howland

November 11, 1946 - October 7, 2016