Lewis N. Howlett, age 82 of Springfield, MO formerly of Montrose, CO, passed away May 10, 2012 after a lengthy illness. Lewis was born November 29, 1929 in Carlsbad, New Mexico to John and Cleo Howlett. He was the youngest of seven children that included two sets of twins in which he and twin sister Lois were the youngest. Lewis spent his early years in Texas, New Mexico, California, and Colorado. Lewis was a United States Navy veteran. In 1951, Lewis married the love of his life, Alma Lee Matthews in Lovington, New Mexico. Lewis and Alma would have celebrated sixty one years of marriage June 2, 2012. To this marriage they had four children, Clayton Lewis Howlett and his wife Patty, Brenda Lee Howlett, Terry Lynn Wilson and her husband Thomas, and Michael Andrew Howlett; grandchildren, Heather and Jerry (J.J. ) Manganello, Brandon Hall, Danny Larue, Adam Wilson, Dale Wilson, Steve Wilson and Connie Wilson, Teresa Bleckman; and great-grandchildren, Brooke, Taylor, Shawn, Kimberly, Hope, Nick, Isabella, Landon, Amber, Tascha and Jordan. Lewis was in law enforcement and business most of his life. His special interests included religion, family, music, his love of antiques, auctions, and collecting. Lew became friends of the original cast and crew of True Grit, from that became a 45 year friendship to Glen Campbell. Glen gave Lew some of his personal musical items such as guitars, jackets, etc which will now be displayed in Nashville Tennesse in the Musicians Music Hall of Fame. Lew also had a role in the TV series "Then Came Bronson" playing a sherriff of all things. Lew and his best friend Jack Semkens (who lost his battle to cancer on March 1, 2012) were Montroses weekly entertainment at Howletts Auction. True friends to the end. Lewis retired to Springfield, Missouri where he lived out the rest of his life with family and friends. Lew touched many lives with his incredible sense of humor and his love for mankind. He was a true missionary of God. Lew was the greatest father and true father-in-law, good buddy, and Papa Lew. He taught us all the "cowboy way." Literally, this man's boots will be hard to fill not only for the man he was but for the size of his boots. He is truly loved and will be greatly missed. Visitation will be Tuesday, May 15, 2012 from 6 to 8 p.m. in Gorman-Scharpf Funeral Home. Funeral services will be Wednesday, May 16, 2012 at 12:30 p.m. in the funeral home. Burial will follow at Missouri Veterans Cemetery. We would also like to thank Dennis Gamble with Gorman-Scharpf Funeral Home and Hospice Compassus (Carrie and Jeff) for the love and care shown to our dad.
