GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Emma Ettalene Ford Howard, 91, died Jan. 21, 2018, at Terrace Health Rehabilitation Center in Gainesville. She was born Jan. 31, 1926, in Ohio County, Kentucky, to the late Joseph Ernest Ford and Ila V. Westerfield Ford.
Emma was a lively, loving, and energetic person who loved talking and sharing stories with her family and friends. She had many pets, was an excellent cook and provided a stable and creative home for her husband, children, and grandchildren.
In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her husband of 52 years, Virgil Raymond Howard, with whom she shared a rare and enduring love; son Raymond Keith Howard; son-in-law, Peter McCullagh; and great-grandson, Kyle Fitzgerald.
She is survived by four daughters, Gayle Londeree and her husband, Bill, Sherry McCullagh, Darla Howard, Aleata Halbig and her husband, Dale; seven grandchildren, Yvette Fitzgerald, Latisha Ralosky, Jonathan Howard, Jim Londeree, Kim Dobson, Daniel Howard, and Casey Mathews; 11 great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.
Funeral services are at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 10, at Whitesville Christian Church with burial following in Cates Cemetery. Visitation is from 10 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Cecil Funeral Home, Whitesville.