Walter Bruce Howell 

W. Bruce Howell, 76, Nixa, passed away Tuesday, May 26, 2026 in his home. He was born November 2, 1949 in Springfield, Missouri to the late Walter Bernard “Bud” Howell and Genilie Jean Kidd Howell Lurie. Bruce lived and worked his whole life in Springfield, starting at 10 years old mowing lawns for the neighborhood. At 13 & 14 years old he rolled papers for the late Paul Shaw. When he was 15, he started his lifelong love of clothes and started working for Bus Harless at “Buss’s Casual Clothing” in downtown. He later worked for Buss, Dinger Bell & Shorty Harrison at “Har-Bell Athletic Goods”.

Bruce attended Rountree Elementary, Jarrett Junior High and graduated from Parkview High School in 1967. He then attended Drury College for a year, LSU at Baton Rouge for a year and graduated from SMSU with a BS in Business Management and Finance with minors in Marketing and Business Administration in 1971.

Upon graduation, Bruce went to work as a traveling sales rep for AMEDCO, a casket manufacturing and funeral supply company. In 1975, Bruce enrolled in the Dallas Institute of Mortuary Science and returned to Springfield in September 1976. He started employment with Gorman-Scharpf Funeral Home, Inc. that same month, later buying the business from Lewis Scharpf and Bill Abbott. Bruce continued to serve the Springfield community for over 45 years.

Bruce was a lifelong member of Christ Episcopal Church having served as an usher and on the vestry in his younger years. He was also a member of Springfield Host Lions Club and B.P.O.E. (Elks) Lodge #409.

Bruce married Kathleen Ann Schien on Sept 9, 1969 and they had two daughters, Heather Kaley and Angela Renee. Later he married Beth Ann Bradley on September 7, 1987 and they had a daughter together, Allyson Leigh. On December 1, 2015, Bruce married Shelly Renee (McPheeters) Wheeler.

In addition to his parents, Bruce was preceded in death by his older brother, Marquis D. Howell, Sr., step-father, Hal Lurie, MD., brother-in-law, Bob Middlemas; nephew, Marquis D. Howell, Jr., second wife, Beth Howell and Steve Liebeck.

Bruce is survived by his wife, Shelly Howell; three daughters, Heather Howell and husband, Clint Mease, Angie and husband, Shawn Larsen, and Allyson Howell; three grandchildren, Mia, Brett and Nick Larsen; two step-daughters, Austin Marie Wheeler Colboch and husband, Jason and Amy Wheeler; two step-grandchildren, Braden and Owen Colboch; his fur babies, Poppy, Stella and Ozzie; sister, Debby Middlemas; two nieces, Juli White and Melissa Middlemas; two great-nephews, Andrew and Matt Sweeney; and three great-nieces, Jurni Howell, Payton and Kennedy Graves; and many other family and friends. Also surviving are Shelly’s extended family including her brother, Rick (Terresa) McPheeters and nephew, Matt McPheeters, who Bruce was very fond of; and his funeral home family that he was very proud of.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to Pamela, Brooke and Nichole with Phoenix Hospice for their loving care over the last few months.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Tuesday, June 2, 2026 in Gorman-Scharpf Funeral Home with burial to follow in Hazelwood Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 5:00–7:00 p.m. Monday in the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to Help Give Hope, 2733 East Battlefield Road, Suite 332, Springfield, MO 65804 or C.A.R.E. Castaway Animal Rescue Effort, PO Box 215, Aurora, MO 65605.