Joe T. Howell, Jr.

Joe Thomas (Joe Tom) Howell, age 86, of Lester, AL, passed away on April 4, 2025, at the Huntsville Hospital Hospice Family Care facility while surrounded by his family. He was born on March 22, 1939, in Prattville, Alabama to parents Clara Mae Calfee Howell and Joseph Thompson Howell.

Mr. Howell grew up in surrounding areas near Chilton County, graduating from Isabella High School.  He went on to attend Auburn University, earning a degree in Mechanical Engineering. He obtained a master’s degree in computer science from the University of Tennessee.  Mr. Howell worked for NASA Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville as a Mechanical Engineer for 46 years.  He also continued to raise cattle and farm throughout his life and in his post-retirement years, served as a Real Estate Agent in north Alabama. He lived in Limestone County for much of his adult life, but remained closely connected to his family in Chilton County throughout.  Mr. Howell enjoyed traveling around the world, but especially enjoyed trips to Chilton County to visit and generously distribute strawberries and peaches to his friends and family in north Alabama. He left a lasting impression on our hearts as a man of generosity who did whatever he could to help the ones he loved, no matter the task. In his memory, we should aspire to take up a torch as men to be the provider he so often sought to be.

Joe is survived by his children: Thomas Scott Howell (Rita) of Orange, TX; Loretta "Lori" Ann Howell Abernathy (Scott) of Athens, AL; Mark Steven Howell (Tina) of Hayden, AL; his grandchildren: Brady Howell (Nikki), Ryan Howell (Bobbielaine), Max Howell (Joann), Dyllon Howell (Victoria), Cameron Abernathy (Anna), Connor Abernathy, Jacob Howell, Cody Howell, Lucas Rochell, Caidyn Rochell, and Mallory Rochell, his 5 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces, nephews and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Jean Hendrix Freeman (Willard) and brother Richard "Dick" Howell (Linda).

Visitation will be from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m., followed by the funeral at 1:00 p.m., Wednesday, April 9, 2025, at Martin Funeral Home in Clanton Alabama. The funeral will be conducted by Jacob Howell. Interment will follow at Isabella Methodist Church Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be his eight grandsons: Brady Adam Howell, Ryan Aaron Howell, Jacob Mark Howell, William Maxwell Howell, Dyllon Ross Howell, Cameron Scott Abernathy, Cody Daniel Howell, and Connor Graham Abernathy.