Donald Gary Howell, 79, died May 13, 2017, with his family by his side. He was born June 5, 1937 in Sylacauga. Gary graduated from B.B. Comer Memorial High School where he lettered in football, baseball and basketball. He attended Jacksonville State University on a football scholarship where he played quarterback. He served in the United States Army on active duty from 1961-1963 where he was stationed in Germany and the Reserves until 1967. He worked at Avondale Mills for 43 years where he started out as a mail room clerk and grew to Project Coordinator. He married Wanda Jo Robbins in 1962 and was married for 25 years and had two daughters, Kim and Hunter. Gary loved sports, mainly Auburn football, the lake, the beach and sports cars. He loved living life and spending time with his family and friends. He was known by many as YG, ET, Honkey and Haircut. He is preceded in death by his parents, Robert Lee Howell and Mattie Martin Howell; brothers, George and Carlos Howell, and sisters, Catherine Jennings, Margaret Haynes, Mildred McGuire and Glenda Barnett. Survivors include his daughters, Kim (Shannon) Garvey, and Hunter (Jason) Simmons, and granddaughters, Ella Grace (nine) and Addison Elizabeth (seven) Simmons. Visitation will be today, May 16, 2017 from 1-3 p.m. at Southern Heritage Funeral Home in Pelham, with a celebration of his life beginning at 3 p.m. Burial to follow at Southern Heritage Cemetery. Southern Heritage Funeral Home Pelham, Alabama
