Clear, 68° F
(Sept. 13, 1931 - May 29, 2011)
Retired missionary and minister William “Bill” MacCord Howrey died Sunday, May 29, 2011 at Worland Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center in Worland. He was 79.
Bill was born on Sept. 13, 1931 in Denver, Colo., a son of Fay Emory and Anna Mae (Carson) Howrey. He was raised and educated in Denver.
He married Grace E. Thompson in Denver in 1951. She died in 1995.
Following high school graduation, he attended college at Biola College in Los Angeles. He then attended Denver Seminary to prepare to become a Christian minister and was a pastor for the Community Bible Church in Kittredge, Colo., while attending seminary.
Following his graduation from seminary, he became the pastor for First Baptist Church in Powell. In 1966, he became a Christian missionary in Naples, Italy and lived there until 1998.
Bill and Shirley M. Beyer were married in Powell, on Aug. 22, 1998 and lived in Worland since their marriage.
He was active in Christian ministry all of his life and served as a substitute minister in his retirement and as an adult Sunday school teacher for a number of years. He had a passion for the word of God, and a deep love for all people and especially for his own family.
While living in Worland, he was a key figure in the annual Christmas parade and festivities. His hobbies included fishing, golfing and gardening.
He was preceded in death by his parents; by his wife Grace; brother James L. Howrey; sister Shirley Moore; and step-daughter Karen Judy.
Bill is survived by his wife Shirley B. Howrey of Worland; sons Steven (Karen) Howrey of Sisters, Ore., Timothy Howrey of Beaverton, Ore., and Phillip (Susanne) Howrey of Lebanon, Ore.; daughter Deborah (Jerry) Suits of Centennial, Colo.; 15 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. He is also survived by a brother Fay (Judy) Howrey of Sandpoint, Idaho; sisters Regina Harrison of Silt, Colo. and Roberta Steffy of Golden, Colo.; and step-children Ross (Kelley) Beyer and Tom (Kristie) Beyer of Lincoln, Neb., and Kay French of Worland.
A viewing will be held at the First Baptist Church on Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 10:15 a.m.
The funeral service will be held on Saturday, June 4 at 10:30 a.m. at the First Baptist Church in Worland with Pastors Joe Stewart and Jerry Suits officiating. Burial will follow at Riverview Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Worland.
Memorials may be made to either WorldVenture Missionary Agency at 1501 Mineral Avenue-Littleton, CO 80120 or to the First Baptist Church at 1101 Big Horn Avenue-Worland, WY 82401. Both funds will be used for missionaries.
Veile Mortuary of Worland is assisting the family with the arrangements.
