Tom Morrison Howard, age 90, of Zephyr, passed away peacefully on October 12, 2023. A visitation will be held Sunday, October 15, 2023, at Heartland Funeral Home from 3 to 5 pm. Tom’s funeral service will take place on Monday, October 16, 2023, in the Heartland Funeral Home Chapel at 10 am with interment to follow at Zephyr Cemetery. 

Tom was born to John and Ruby Howard on November 4, 1932, in Coleman County at the family farm. He attended Howard Payne College/Daniel Baker, graduating in 1953 with a Master of Education and a Superintendent Certificate. Tom married the love of his life, Bobbie Parrish Howard, on May 23, 1953, and they began a life together that blessed them with four children. Tom joined the United States Air Force in 1954 and rose to the rank of Staff Sergeant. He served in the Korean Conflict and was stationed in Lackland Air Force Base before receiving an Honorable discharge in 1958. Tom had a long career in education working as a teacher in Paint Rock, Texas, a teacher and principal in Lometa and then as Superintendent of Zephyr ISD for 22 years.

Tom and Bobbie were members of First Baptist Church Lometa for ten years, until they moved to Zephyr in 1968 and joined the First Baptist Church, where he later served as a Deacon. He enjoyed gardening, growing pecan trees, playing Dominoes, but most of all, he loved his family. Tom was instrumental in starting the Zephyr Volunteer Fire Department and was an active member for many, many years.

Tom is survived by his daughter, Cindy (Howard) Moore and her husband Kirby of Star; his sons, Tommy Howard and his wife Rhonda of Early, David Howard and his wife Mary of Zephyr, and Steve Howard and his wife Laura of Santa Anna; grandchildren, Mike Moore, Kim (Moore) Dove, Amy (Howard) Green, Jennifer (Howard) McCoy, Brittany Howard, Samantha Howard, Andrea Howard, Nathan Howard, Jared Howard, and Justin Howard; great-grandchildren, Kiley Dove, Kayden Dove, Emily Green, Aaron Green, Lily Green, Auggie Green, Braydon McCoy, Elliott McCoy, Sawyer Howard, Sutton Howard, with two additional great-grandchildren expected.

Tom was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Bobbie Howard; his sister, Inez Morrow; his brother, JD Howard and an infant granddaughter, Stephanie Howard.

Memorial contributions in honor of Tom may be made to First Baptist Church Zephyr PO Box 583, Zephyr, TX 76890 or the Zephyr Volunteer Fire Department PO Box 569, Zephyr, TX 76890.

Online condolences, memories and tributes can be made to the family at heartlandfuneralhome.net