Mary Ivey Howell

Mary Ivey Howell, age 87, slipped into the arms of Jesus on September 18, 2026, at the Cottages Memory Care Facility in Amarillo, Texas.

Funeral services will be held at 2 pm on Saturday, September 26, 2026, at New Life Church.  Burial will follow in Highland Park Cemetery.  The family will receive guest from 5-7 pm on Friday, September 25, 2026, at the funeral home. Services are under the direction of Minton Chatwell Funeral Directors of Borger. 

Mary was born on June 9, 1939, in Pampa, Texas, to William "Ed" Ivey and Zaluar "Grace" Ivey. She was the youngest of three children and a cherished daughter, the apple of her father’s eye.

Mary experienced her “second birth” as a teenager and devoted her life to Jesus. As a lifelong woman of faith, Mary was a vibrant member of New Life Church in Borger, Texas. Her musical talents touched many lives, as she served faithfully as a pianist for numerous churches throughout her lifetime. Characteristic of Mary’s heart, she always played “What a Friend We Have in Jesus” as the last of the congregants left the church.

Mary graduated from Borger High School and later attended Frank Phillips College. Over the years, she built a diverse career, working as a clerk in Liberal, Kansas, and Fritch, Texas. She eventually settled into her role as a radiology receptionist at Golden Plains Hospital in Borger, where her warm smile and compassionate nature comforted many patients.

Mary shared her life with two devoted husbands, Barney D. Ward, her high school sweetheart and husband of fifty years. After Barney passed she married Mike Howell of Florence, Arizona, whom she married after Barney's passing. They shared a wonderful life together until his passing in 2024.

Mary brought two daughters, Kathrine Ann and Karen Janine, into the world and considered them as gifts from God.

Mary is preceded in death by her parents, William and Zaluar Ivey, her sisters, Cynthia LaGrone and Frances Lee, her son-in-love Randy Loucks and her granddaughter, Elizabeth Janine Patterson.

Mary is survived by daughters: Kathrine Whitfield (husband Paul) of Woodland Park, Colorado and Karen Stoffle (husband Ben) of Amarillo, Texas. She was blessed with three grandsons, Brett Loucks (wife Blanca) and Scott Loucks (fiancé Katia Baltsenka) and Chris Stoffle (wife Marisa) and granddaughter, Shalmarie Permenter. She is also survived by great-grandson, Keaton Loucks and great granddaughters Brooklyn and Brinley Loucks, Jacy, Jada, and Ava Permenter.

The family is especially thankful for Ashley Aragon of the Cottages Memory Care Home in Amarillo for her selfless care and devotion to Mary while she lived there.