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Mellie Jo Howard, 85, of Corsicana, TX, passed away Sunday, April 14, 2019 in Denton, TX. Mellie was born March 15, 1934 in Corsicana, TX to Homer G. and Grace (Johnston) Rendon. She was raised in Elm Flat, TX and graduated from Kerens High School in 1951. Mellie married Charles Howard and devoted her time to raising her children. When her children were all in elementary school, she enrolled in college and graduated from McNeese State in Lake Charles, LA. She received her Masters in Education from the University of North Texas. Mellie cherished her numerous former students and colleagues, having taught elementary school in Holliday, Wichita Falls, Hurst, Kerens, and Corsicana during her over 30 year career.She accepted Jesus as her personal savior as a child and was a member of First Baptist Church Corsicana.Mellie spent her adult life in service to others. She actively lobbied for public education in Austin, as well as Washington DC and was active in the Texas State Teachers Association serving in numerous capacities. Mellie also served as president of the Corsicana Retired Teachers organization. She was active in many organizations over the years, such as The Jose Antonio Navarro Chapter of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas, Past regent of the James Blair Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, The Rebekahs, The Kinsloe House, appointed board member by Gov. Ann Richards to the Trinity River Authority, and numerous other organizationsPolitics has been Mellie’s greatest passion. She was past chairman of the Navarro County Democratic Party and was selected as a delegate to the National Democratic Conventions in New York in 1992 and Chicago in 1996. She spent untold hours working polls and registering Navarro county voters. Mellie was preceded in death by her loving parents, Homer and Grace; infant sister, Betty; and brother, Homer Keith Rendon. She is survived by her son, James Howard and wife, Shontel of Dallas, TX; two daughters, Marsha Marsh and husband, Roger of Pilot Point, TX and Mindy Arnold and husband, Morris of Cedar Hill, TX; six grandchildren, Caleb Marsh, Robbi Horvath, Travis Marsh, Franklin Horvath, Hannah Howard, and Julie Lyons; eight great grandchildren and numerous extended family members.Visitation will be held 5:30PM-7:00PM, Thursday, April 18, 2019 at First Baptist Church, 200 SW 2nd St., Kerens, TX 75144. A funeral service will begin at 1:00PM on Friday, April 19, 2019 at First Baptist Church in Kerens, TX. Interment will follow in Kerens Cemetery in Kerens, TX. Online condolences may be shared at www.slaymemorialfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are under the direction of Terri Slay and Slay Memorial Funeral Center.

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Mellie Jo Howard

March 15, 1934 - April 14, 2019