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Jovita Linda Howell, also known as “Jaye,” resident of the Miami-Globe area, went away to be with the Lord on Nov. 23, 2024. She was born in her parents’ home in Claypool, Arizona on Oct. 6, 1941. She was the youngest daughter of Ventura and Maria G. Lopez.
She graduated from Miami High School in 1960. Jaye entered the university as a nursing major and during the summer vacations, she worked at Gila General Hospital as a student nurse. She then changed her major to education. She was a graduate of Northern Arizona University, where she earned her Ed.D, master's in education, (psychology), and a Bachelor of Science degree. She enjoyed nursing, but Dr. Howell‘s first love was teaching and counseling students. She loved every student and in the last years, she shared her fond memories of teaching and working with students.
She started her teaching career as a fifth-grade classroom teacher at Rice Elementary in San Carlos, Arizona. She was instrumental in writing and setting up the first guidance counseling program at Rice School and served as the school's first K-8 guidance counselor.
She then went to Leupp, Arizona and was hired at the Leupp School District as a guidance counselor. While at Leupp, she wrote and set up the school district K-12 guidance counselor program. She returned to San Carlos and worked at San Carlos Junior High as the guidance counselor. She was transferred to San Carlos High School where she worked as a guidance counselor and administrator until her retirement.
Dr. Howell was a former member of Arizona Counseling Association, Phi Delta Kappa professional fraternity, and Alpha Delta Kappa honorary sorority.
In 1988-1989 Dr. Howell was awarded the Rice School Outstanding Educator by the Globe/Miami Chamber of Commerce.
She was married to Doctor Edward D. Howell. They had a loving marriage that lasted 32 wonderful years until Ed’s death in 2007. After retirement they enjoyed traveling, reading, gardening, oil painting, drawing, refinishing furniture, fishing, and watching the Diamondbacks and college football.
A highlight in her young life was playing a practice softball game against the Arizona Ramblers, who were an Arizona State pro softball team. Jaye was 12 years old and a junior high school student, the rest of her teammates were 16, 17 and 18 years old high school students. No official scorecard was kept but each individual team member kept the score mentally. The challengers (our) team received quite a thrashing, but we had fun playing with the Arizona Ramblers, and our team had a lot to talk about for a long time.
She was preceded in death by her husband Ed Howell, parents Ventura and Maria G. Lopez, brothers Ted Lopez, Fito Lopez, Ben Lopez, Joseph G. Lopez, and sister Maria E Lopez. She is survived by her stepson Vernon Howell, sister Connie Cocreham, brother Al Lopez (Robin), and many nieces and nephews.
Requiem mass will be held Jan. 4, 2025, at 10 a.m. at our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Church in Miami. Interment will follow at Globe Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, a donation in memory of Jovita L. Howell to the Heart Association or Alzheimer’s Association would be preferred.
