Forrest Lee “Woody” Howard, 83, of Windsor, Missouri, formerly of Calhoun, Mo., died unexpectedly Friday, October 17, 2025, at Golden Valley Memorial Hospital in Clinton, Mo.
He was born March 6, 1942, in Windsor, Mo., the oldest son of Forrest Walton Howard and Rosa Opal (Boyd) Howard. As a teen, he worked at Gerbes in Windsor carrying groceries and later at Kroger in Windsor in the produce department. He enjoyed these jobs and the many people he met.
He worked at Rival Manufacturing and Schreiber Foods in Clinton, retiring in 2004. Following retirement, he ran his own lawn care business and worked at the Bullseye in Calhoun for several years. He was a member of the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Clinton. One of the constants in Woody’s life was music. As a young adult, he sang with several groups including “The Country Kinfolk.” In addition to singing, he wrote songs and played several instruments. He enjoyed exchanging stories and visiting with family and friends.
Survivors include two sons, David Andrew Howard and his wife Ronna, Jacksonville, North Carolina, and Gene Allen Howard and his wife Brandi, Leesburg, Georgia; 4 grandchildren, Paige Blankenship and her husband Dalton, Jacksonville, NC; Parker Howard, Jacksonville, NC; Hailey Daland and her husband Jake, San Diego, California; and Cody Howard, Leesburg, GA; a great-granddaughter, Daphne Rose Blankenship; a brother Charley Bob Howard, New Haven, Mo.; a sister-in-law, Mary Kay Howard, Windsor, Mo.; and several nephews, nieces, great-nephews, and great-nieces. He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Joe Howard.
Graveside services will be 2:30 p.m. Sunday, October 26, 2025, at the Laurel Oak Cemetery, Windsor. The family will receive friends before the service on Sunday from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Hadley Funeral Home, Windsor. Friends may also call Saturday, October 25, at the funeral home from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. to pay their respects. Condolences may be left online at www.hadleyfuneralhome.com.
