Willis Lee Howard

HOWARD, Willis Lee, age 96 of Apt. 413, Morningview Village, Maryville, died Wednesday, April 5, 2006. He was the son of Ewell and Nancy Howard of Baxter, KY. Howard received his BS degree from Union College, KY and his MS from The University of Tennessee. At UT, he was in the honor fraternity Phi Delta Kappa. He began his extensive work in education in Harlan, KY (1934-42) and continued in the Maryville City School System at Maryville High (Social Studies teacher 1947-56), Maryville Junior High (Social Studies teacher 1956-58) and Sam Houston Elementary School (principal 1957-73). During World War II, he worked on the Manhattan Project at Oak Ridge; later receiving awards for his service. After retirement from education, he has been honored by Maryville Rotary Club, twice, for his leadership in Blount County Retired Teachers Association. He, also, held many leadership roles in Broadway United Methodist Church which honored him with 52 years of service on his 90th birthday. He was appointed to the Bicentennial Committee by Maryville City Council as chairman of the Education Committee in 1976. He was a charter member of the Blount County Friends of the Library. At the age of 93, he was awarded the Presidential Adult Lifestyle award for maintaining regular physical activity. Mr. Howard is survived by his wife of 64 years, Carleen; sister, Elsie of Baxter, KY; brother, H. Fred of Harlan, KY; son, Lynn and wife Tina of Greenville, SC and son, Jim and wife Carol of Maryville, TN. He is also survived by two grandsons, Michael and wife Jennifer and Chris and wife Meaghan and three great-grandchildren, Alex, Lauren and Hunter. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday at Broadway United Methodist Church with Rev. Dan Moore officiating. The interment will follow in Grandview Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6:30-8:00 p.m. Friday at McCammon-Ammons-Click Funeral Home, Maryville. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Broadway United Methodist Church, 309 E. Broadway, Maryville, TN 37804. McCammon-Ammons-Click Funeral Home, Maryville 982-6812 www.mccammonammonsclick.com