Mary Howle

Mary Huff Howle,106, of Brevard, North Carolina, passed away at her home on June 21, 2022. Mary was born Mary Helen Huff on March 21, 1916, daughter to George Holt Huff and Harriet Pearl White Huff in Camden-on-Gauley, West Virginia.

Mary grew up in nearby Huntington, West Virginia with her five sisters and one brother.  Mary was graduated from high school and attended Marshall College.

During World War II, Mary left home to live with her sister Anne in Hollywood, California.  Despite the war, she enjoyed the vibrancy of the Los Angeles area but eventually returned to her roots in West Virginia. On May 17, 1947, she married a long time suitor Andrew R. Winters (member of the West Virginia House of Delegates and the West Virginia Senate).  The marriage ended in 1953.

Mary later moved to Pittsburg, Pennsylvania to be closer to her sister Phala.  This is where she met Clement Roger Howle, and they married on October 6, 1961.  Roger’s job with Alcoa, Inc. took them to the Seattle, Washington region where they lived until his retirement.  From there they moved to Brevard, North Carolina where they lived until Roger’s death on June 3, 2003 at the age of 84.

Around 2005, Mary met fellow Deer Lake Estates resident (and recent widower) Allan John Buckreus, and they became the best of friends and supportive life companions until Allan’s death on February 25, 2022 at the age of 100.

Mary is survived by her nieces Linda Bradley Todd McCall of Augusta, Georgia and Susan Todd Urich of Naples, Florida (daughters of Phala Alice Huff Todd) and Karen Sue King Rockwood of Cedar City, Utah (daughter of Jo Ann Huff King), her nephew Steven Edward Thomas of Georgetown, Texas (son of Eugenia Edith Huff Thomas), and her step-daughter Leslie Howle of Seattle, Washington (daughter of Clement Roger Howle).

A service of worship and celebration for Mary Huff Howle was held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, July 1, 2022 in the sanctuary of Reid Memorial Presbyterian Church located at 2261 Walton Way in Augusta, Georgia.  The service was officiated by the Rev. Dr. Brandi Casto-Waters and featured Peyton Moss on organ and piano and soloist Dianne Brown.

Those who wish to remember Mary in a special way may make gifts in her memory to Brevard-Davidson River Presbyterian Church (https://bdrpc.org/) or to Mary’s favorite charities: Prison Fellowship (https://www.prisonfellowship.org/) and Jews for Jesus (https://jewsforjesus.org/).