Mary Jane "Janie" (Betts) Howell

Mary Jane Howell, 86, of Nebraska City, passed away on May 29, 2026, at her home surrounded by her loving family.

Mary Jane “Janie” Howell was born on August 6, 1939 in Nebraska City, the daughter of Arnold and Dorothy (Gillispie) Betts. She attended school in Nebraska City, graduating from Nebraska City High School with the class of 1959. Following graduation, she worked at Ocoma Foods for a time before starting her career at Pendelton Woolen Mills where she worked as a seamstress for some 36 years before retiring. She later worked for the Nebraska City Medical Clinic. She was a member of the Eagle’s Club and the American Legion Auxiliary.

She was united in marriage to Vilas R. “Curly” Howell on March 10, 1960 in Sidney, IA.

Janie is survived by her children: Jane (Don) Hardy of Tecumseh, NE, Lisa DiRoma of Live Oak, FL, Julie (Ron) Schalk of Nebraska City, Melinda (Todd) Moyer of Nebraska City, Carma (Jim) Eagans of Rock Port, MO, and Tracey (Denny) Fielder of Greenville, TX; daughter-in-law Deb Howell; 18 grandchildren; 53 great-grandchildren; 5 great-great grandchildren; nieces, nephews, other family and many friends.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband Vilas “Curly” Howell Sr; children: Vilas “Bubby” Howell Jr., William “Billy” Howell, Peggy (Dean) Eagans, Jeanette Howell Diehl and Virgil Howell; son-in-law Dan DiRoma; and siblings: Betty Kingery, Shirley Reeves, and Jack Betts.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, June 5, 2026 at Gude Mortuary in Nebraska City. Burial will follow at Wyuka Cemetery in Nebraska City.

Memorials are directed to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

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