Barbara Howell

Barb Howell, 70, of Winterset, died Tuesday, January 23, 2018, at the Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines. A visitation will be held from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., Friday, January 26 at Ochiltree Funeral Service; family will be present to receive friends during this time. A private family burial will be held in the Montpelier Cemetery, Madison County. Memorials may be directed to the family for a later designation and online condolences may be left at ochiltree.com. Barbara Jean McKenzie, daughter of John and Betty (Larison) McKenzie, was born August 12, 1947, in Des Moines, Iowa. She was united in marriage to Morris Howell on December 18, 1964 in Des Moines. Barb was a homemaker, a wonderful wife and a caring mother. She enjoyed sewing and researching her family ancestry. She was an avid reader and a talented cook. Barb was a huge Elvis fan. Those that met her were impacted by her profound and wonderful personality. She will be missed. Those left to cherish her memory are her husband of 53 years, Morris Howell of Winterset; four children, Chad (Megan) Howell of Des Moines, Darin (Shelly) Howell of Casey, Suzanne Scott of Winterset, and Craig Howell of Hudson; two sisters, Marilyn McKenzie of Des Moines and Janet Dillinger of Peru; 13 grandchildren; 7 great-grandchildren; and lifelong friend, Marjie Cortez. Barb was preceded in death by her parents, John and Betty; her beloved son, Douglas Alan Howell; and a brother, Johnny McKenzie.