Myra Lee Coffee, born Nov. 6, 1921, died Oct. 26, 1986, was the daughter of Albert Lilburn and Ora Elizabeth Braley Coffee. She was their only daughter and was a sister to my father, Frank Hurley Coffee.
[I have other photos of her, but thought this one to be rather worthy of use here]
Myra married August Edward (Gus) Howell in Shreveport, Caddo Parish, LA on Oct. 19, 1938. To the union was born three children: Myra Sue, Camille (Jun 1948-Sep 1948), and August (Eddie), Jr. She and Gus, Sr. divorced and Myra was briefly married to a Mr. Rea just prior to her death.
Gus, Sr. was the son of Joe John and Caroline Zoller Howell. The Howell family is first found in Alabama in 1829. John Milam Howell was born there that year and later moved into Mississippi. He married Oney Percilla Flynt in Tishomingo Co., MS on Nov. 12, 1851. She was born Nov. 29, 1831 in Madison Co., AL and died Apr. 21, 1894 in Belmont, Gonzales Co., TX. Oney was the daughter of John Halberet and Martha Roberts Flynt.
Undoubtedly, John and Oney had more than two children [they had a daughter named Margaret for whom I've found no information]. The one son that I have found was Edward Holbert Howell, born Jul., 1853 in Holly Springs, Marshall Co., MS, died Sep. 9, 1942 in Gonzales Go., TX.
I am unsure if John and Oney moved to TX with their children, but it appears that sometime before 1875 Edward moved to that part of Texas. It was here on Feb. 2, 1875 that he married Emily Feroba [sic] Justice, a daughter of Tilman D. and Mildred Ann Williams Justice. She was born in TX c1885 and died in Gonzales Co. on Oct. 26, 1927.
Emily and Edward had at least 10 children, the fourth being Joe John on May 7, 1882, died Jun. 24, 1946. Joe John married Caroline Zoller, born c1886 in Belmont, Gonzales Co., TX, and died there on Jan. 18, 1959. Caroline was the daughter of Gustav and Evaline Zoller. Gustav was born in Mexico in Apr., 1865. Evaline was a native Texan, born there in Jul., 1865.
Joe John and Caroline had at least four children: Gus, Sr., Joe M., Mildred E., and Hazel E. Gus was born in Seguin, Guadalupe Co., TX and died on Feb. 26, 1996 in Lafayette, Lafayette Parish, LA.
Most of the Edward and Emily Justice Howell children seem to have remained in Gonzales and/or Guadalupe counties all of their lives. Many are buried the Belmont cemetery in Gonzales Co.
I have additional facts on many of these, and would like to exchange information with anyone researching this Howell family.
