Robert Donald Howerton

Robert Donald Howerton, son of the late Charlie and Grace (Smallwood) Howerton, was born February 25, 1928, in Mansfield, Missouri, and departed this life May 27, 2018, in Texas County Memorial Hospital in Houston, Missouri. He was 90 years, 3 months, and 2 days of age.

Robert’s family moved to Raymondville, Missouri, when he was very young. Growing up, Don attended schools at Raymondville, Missouri, Calico Rock, Arkansas, and Houston High School in Houston, Missouri. He also attended Draughon Business College in Springfield, Missouri, and Bush Diesel School in St. Louis, Missouri. Don entered the United States Army on March 2, 1946, as a branch engineer. He trained at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, Fort Lewis, Washington, and Camp Kilmer, New Jersey, and served in the Overseas European Operations, stationed at Stuttgart and Regensburg, Germany.

Don married Mary Marcelene Webb of Rogersville, Missouri, on November 19, 1949, in Springfield, Missouri. Two sons were born to this union. Don and Mary lived in Raymondville, Missouri, for forty-nine years before moving to Mountain Grove, Missouri, in 1998.

Don accepted Christ as his Savior as a young teenager. He served in various positions in the Methodist Church in Raymondville and Mountain Grove.

Don served as Mayor of Raymondville during the town’s centennial in 1976. He also served on the Raymondville School Board as well as serving in other community duties.

After returning from the service, Don worked in the Howerton Hardware Store at Raymondville and Houston. After Bush Diesel School, he worked for E.A. Martin Machinery Company in Springfield, Missouri. He pioneered several businesses: bulldozing, concrete ready mix, and a sand and gravel business. With his family, he owned and operated Texas County Post Company at Raymondville for several years. He served on the Board of Directors in 1976, for Missouri Forest Product Association. After the sale of Texas County Post Company in 1985, he started another business, D&M Materials. In 1993 he sold the business and retired.

Don and Mary enjoyed spending the winter months in Texas and Arizona. Don enjoyed playing pool at the Senior Center and at RV Parks in the winter.

Don was preceded in death by his parents and his daughter-in-law, Diana Howerton, one sister, Joanne Fortson, and a step-grandson, Jason Wilson.

He is survived by his wife of sixty-eight and one-half years, Mary Marcelene Howerton, of Mountain Grove, Missouri, two sons, Webb (Candace) Howerton of Mountain Grove, Missouri, and Chris Howerton of Rolla, Missouri, four grandchildren, Sara (Lewis) Miller of Houston, Missouri, Nick (Julie) Howerton of Springfield, Missouri, Clay Howerton of Rolla, Missouri, and Heath Howerton of Olympia, Washington, one step-grandson, Josh Howerton, five great-grandchildren, Lewis II and Lane Miller of Houston, Missouri, Landon and Cohen Howerton of Olympia, Washington, and Caden Howerton of Springfield, Missouri, one brother, Nolan Howerton and wife, Carmelita, of Raymondville, Missouri, one sister, Donna Ramsey of Mountain Grove, Missouri, and other relatives and friends.