Howard Bryant

Howard Eugene Bryant, Sr. was born on December 25, 1906 in Eureka, Michigan went home to be with his lord and savior on October 3, 2014, at the age of 107 years. He was the first child of Edwin Earl and Myrtie Mae (Metzger) Bryant. Howard attended grade school in Eureka and high school in St. Johns, graduating in 1924 at the age of 17. He entered Michigan State College in 1926 after working on the family farm for a couple of years. He belonged to the Phi Chi Alpha fraternity and worked his way through college for a few years.

In November of 1933, Howard married Pauline Leone (Wagner) and went to work at Oldsmobile. Howard began to attend classes again at MSC and graduated in 1937. He began a teaching career and in 34 years of teaching he taught school at Quincy, Maple Rapids, Fennville, Sand Creek and Ashley, all schools in Michigan. The subjects he taught were, Agriculture, Shop, Biology and Chemistry.

After retirement from teaching, he served as Mayor of Ashley for eight years and worked at Rehmann's Clothing Store in St. Johns. His first wife Pauline, passed away in 1973. He married Arleen Mosher Sheldon of Ovid in 1983, and moved to Ovid. They had attended high school together. Arleen preceded Howard in death in 1998. Howard enjoyed traveling, reading books, Hunting, fishing, gardening, woodworking, and oil painting which he took up at age 92, and his faithful dogs Ginger and Abby. He was a member of United Church of Ovid, the Ovid Lions club, and was a lifetime member of the MSU Alumni Association and Michigan Public Schools Retirement Association.

Howard is survived by children, Sharron Bair of Sioux City, Iowa, and Howard (Ruth) Bryant, Jr. of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Also surviving are his son in law, David Schanz of Seffner, Florida, stepdaughter, Margo (Larry) Martin of Ovid, Michigan, and 17 grandchildren , 31 great grandchildren, 9 great great grandchildren. Howard was preceded in death by his parents, wives, daughter, LuAnn Schanz, his brother, Richard Bryant, sister, Helene Hankey, son in law, William Bair, step son and daughter in law, Keith (Hilda) Sheldon and step grand daughter, Kari Sheldon.

A Funeral Service will be held 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, October 7, 2014 at the United Church of Ovid, 131 W. Front St, Ovid, with Pastor Paul Damkoehler officiating and burial taking place at Eureka Cemetery. Visitation will be Monday, October 6, from 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. at Houghton Chapel of Osgood Funeral Homes, 232 E. Oak St, Ovid, MI. Memorial donations may be made in Howard's memory to the United Church of Ovid.