Rayda Jean Parker Howe

(September 4, 1961 ~ November 6, 2018)

Rayda Jean Parker Howe, daughter of Ernest Boyde Parker and Nancy Jean Garvey, married to Arthur Dale Howe.  Cremation was chosen.

Buffalo Gap, TX

Rayda Jean Howe, 57, passed away peacefully surrounded by family at her home in Buffalo Gap on Tuesday, November 6, 2018.

Rayda was born in Baytown, Texas, on September 4, 1961, to Ernest and Nancy (Garvey) Parker. She attended school at Jim Ned where she met her husband, Arthur Dale Howe, when she was fourteen years old. They were married two years later in Abilene, Texas, on February 18, 1978. They were married for over forty years at the time of her death.

She earned an associate's degree in nursing from Cisco Junior College in 1988 where she was honored as "Nancy Nurse" by her classmates for her caring heart and great patient care. Nursing was Rayda's calling and her passion. She loved all of her patients, and they loved her in return. Her experience in the nursing field covered many facets, including dialysis, oncology, and home health. At the time of her retirement, she was caring for patients in the clinic setting as an office nurse with Abilene Diagnostic Clinic.

When she wasn't providing great care for her patients, Rayda loved being at the lake or the beach. She loved thrift store shopping and spending Saturdays going to garage sales. Her favorite times were family nights when she could spend time with her husband, children, and grandchildren playing games.

Rayda is survived by her husband, Art Howe, of Buffalo Gap, her daughter and son-in-law, Christy and Dale Caldwell, of Clyde, her son and daughter-in-law, Bobby and Courtney Howe of Hawley, her son and daughter-in-law, Britton and Brittney Howe, of Tye, and her former son-in-law, George Votaw, of Tye. She will be greatly missed by her nine grandchildren, Kane Howe of Abilene, Katlynn, Abigail, and Brianna Votaw of Clyde, Larkin and London Howe of Hawley, Brayden, Bravely, and Brylie Howe of Tye, and one great-grandson, Kaiden Howe of Abilene.

Rayda leaves behind a brother, Chris Parker and his fiance;, Nina, of Dayton, and two sisters, Teresa Parker, of Clyde, and Marta Toler and her husband, Willie, of Abilene. She is also survived by many nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts, uncles, in-laws, friends, and patients who loved her dearly. She was preceded in death by her father, Ernest Parker, her mother, Nancy Parker, and her twin daughters, Stacy and Tracy Howe.

Rayda will always be remembered for her caring heart and her beautiful smile, which she was always so eager to share with everybody she met. To know her was to love her, and she will be sorely missed by everybody that did. The world will definitely have a lot less light in it without her smile.

To honor her last wishes, no viewing will be held, and Rayda's earthly remains will be cremated. A memorial service to honor and remember her will be held at a later date.

Published in Abilene Reporter-News on Nov. 11, 2018