Betty Lou Howell, 83, of Festus died Oct. 8, 2022, in Festus. Mrs. Howell was a retired mapper for the Jefferson County Assessor’s office and a real estate appraiser for the Missouri Department of Transportation. She was a state-certified real estate appraiser, a member of the Missouri Appraiser Advisory Council and former president of the Hillsboro R-3 PTA. Born Sept. 14, 1939, in St. Louis, she was the daughter of the late Violet Grace (Wilson) and Alvie Jule Gillam Sr. She was preceded in death by her husband: Rondell E. Howell.
She is survived by two sons: Mark (Debra) Wiley and David (Keena) Wiley, both of Hillsboro; a daughter: Mary Beth (Terry) Stanfield of Hillsboro; 10 grandchildren: Lee (Caitlin) Wiley of Arnold, Matthew Wiley of Cedar Hill, Michele (Ryan) Wilson of Hillsboro, Brandon (Kelly) Koogler of St. Louis, Amber Wiley-Brown of Pittsburgh, Pa., Breana Wiley of Hillsboro, Daniele Wiley of Albuquerque, N.M., Faith Smith-Hynes of Hillsboro, Sarah Smith-Hynes of Hillsboro and Brendan Smith-Hynes; and 17 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by a great-granddaughter: Alexis Wiley; two brothers: Edgar Glenn Gillam and Alvie Jule Gillam Jr; and a sister: Ida Marie Gillam.
A celebration of life will be held from 2-6 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 30, at the De Soto Community Center, 400 Boyd St., in De Soto. Burial of cremains is in the Rosebud Cemetery in Potosi. Memorials may be made to an animal rescue organization of the donor’s choice. Arrangements are under the direction of Robert D. Brown Funeral Home in Hillsboro.