Raymond Lee Howell

Wilson - Mr. Raymond Lee Howell, age 76, of Wilson, departed this life on Monday, May 27, 2019 at Mercy Memorial Hospital in Ardmore. Graveside services with military honors are scheduled for 10A.M. Saturday, June 1, 2019 at the Hewitt Cemetery in Wilson. Services are under the direction and care of Alexander Gray Funeral Home in Wilson.

Mr. Howell was born on April 24, 1943 in Alameda California. He grew up in California and attended school there until 1960 when he joined the United States Navy and proudly served his country for four years. He married Carol (Brown) Howell on August 7, 1962 at Denison, TX. In 1964 they moved to Richmond, California where they had their only child Tommy (Tom) Bryan Howell. Raymond worked many years for UPS. They later moved to Arizona until 1995 when they retired and moved to Wilson. Carol passed away in 1997. Mr. Howell would later marry Paula Ann McMillen and they continued to live in Wilson and enjoyed 13 years together until her death in 2011.

Raymond enjoyed tinkering on old cars and doing mechanic work. He had many friends but especially enjoyed visiting with his friend Craig Tatro who was like an adopted son to him. They would spend many hours at Craig’s transmission shop working on his old trucks and doing mechanic work with his good friend Jimmy Glenn. Mr. Howell was a frequent visitor of the Black Gold Casino and always watched Monday night wrestling.

Mr. Howell is preceded in death by his parents; son, Tommy (Tom) Bryan Howell; first wife Carol Howell; second wife, Paula Howell; and adopted son and friend, Craig Tatro.

He is survived by his five step children; Randy Copeland of California, Sherry Copeland of Whitefield, OK, Britt Copeland and wife Martha of Guthrie, Goldie Leyva and husband James of Ringling and Connie Casteel of Crescent, and many friends.

Serving as honorary pallbearers will be his friends at the Wilson Nutrition Center and Bill Hartman.

Online condolences can be made at alexanderfuneralhome.org