Garland "Tuffy" Ray Howell

A Graveside Service for Garland “Tuffy” Howell 93, Custer County Educator and Farmer will be held 1:00 P.M., Wednesday, December 14, 2022, in the Fairview Cemetery in Putnam, OK officiated by Rev. Dean Brookshire and under the direction of the Kiesau-Lee Funeral Home.

There will be a book and video available at the funeral home Monday and Tuesday, 8:00 A.M. until 8 P.M.

Garland Ray Howell, better known as “Tuffy” was born May 7, 1929, to Emmett and Bessie (Conley) Howell in the home in Putnam, OK and passed away Thursday, December 8, 2022, in the Homestead Assisted Living Center in Clinton, OK.

“Tuffy” was given his nick name the day he was born by an uncle who had received word that he had been born and that he was one Tuff little guy. He has been known as Tuffy from that day on. He attended Putnam School through the 7th grade school. During World War II, the family moved to Jones, OK where his dad worked at Tinker Field as an airplane mechanic. Tuffy attended Jones School for the next four years and in 1946 the family moved back to Putnam where he graduated high school in 1947.

In the Fall of 1947, he enrolled in the Oklahoma A&M in Stillwater, OK in the School of Agriculture, majoring in Agriculture Education. In the Spring of 1951, he graduated from what is known now as Oklahoma State University, with a bachelor’s degree in Agriculture Education.

His first job after college was teaching World War II Veterans “on the farm training” in Burke, South Dakota. Living there for a short time, he returned home and married Helen Moore on August 3, 1951, in Clinton. The young couple moved back to South Dakota where he continued teaching World War II Veterans. In 1953 he moved back to Oklahoma and took a Vocational Agricultural teaching position in Vinson, OK. In 1954, he was offered the job teaching Vocational Agriculture in Arapaho where he taught for 29 years, retiring in 1983. He farmed and ranched with his two sons up until recent and over 90 years old.

During Tuffy’s tenure at Arapaho School he had approximately 25 students that achieved the State Farmer Degree and along with Tuffy 12 of his students received the American Farmer Degree. Tuffy was well respected by his students, and they all called him “Tuffy”.

After Tuffy’s retirement from teaching he served a five-year term on the Arapaho School Board. He was an avid fan of Arapaho sports, and he was the clock keeper at the Arapaho Basketball games for over 50 years.

He was a longtime and faithful member of the Arapaho United Methodist Church; he is a Charter member of the Arapaho Masonic Lodge and at its closing he became a member of the Clinton Masonic Lodge. He was a charter member of the Arapaho Volunteer Fire Department, where he also served as fire chief for two years.

Tuffy’s wife, Helen preceded him in death in 1998. In 2004 he became close friends with Helen Towner-Jones who had grown up with him in Putnam. They enjoyed going to senior citizens gatherings, going to dinner and playing dominoes.

He is also preceded in death by his parents, an infant son, Stephen, two sisters, Velda Ruzicki and Marva Phillips.

He is survived by two daughters, Karen Owen and husband, Gary, Clinton, OK, Sandra Orth and husband, Don, Elk City, OK: two sons, Gary Howell and wife, RuthAnn, and Tony Howell and wife, Sandra, both of Arapaho and sister-in-law, Betty Deutschendorf, Clinton, OK.

He is also survived by seven grandchildren, Kelly Burnett and husband, Nate, Kevin Howell and wife, Jeralynn, Jaime Knott, James “Slip” Knott and wife, Liz, Jared Howell and wife Shelbie, Rachel Allen and husband, Nicholas, and Hollie Calhoun and husband, Garrett, 13 great-grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren.

The family has suggested those wanting to give a memorial contribution may do so to the Putnam Senior Citizens or the Arapaho United Methodist Church.