Bertha Esther West Howard was born February 12, 1920 in Nebo, WV, the daughter of the late Elec Alexander and Addie Tanner West.

Mrs. Howard was a resident of McNairy County Health Care Center for over 13 years. She also lived in Sparta, TN and Nebo, WV in the past. She was a homemaker and also worked at Dayton, Ohio Airplane Plant as an assembly worker prior to her marriage to Hershel in 1946. Mrs. Howard loved to watch TV, and to visit with her family and grandchildren.

Mrs. Howard departed this life on July 21, 2012 in Selmer, Tennessee at the age of 92 Years, 5 Months, 9 Days.

She is survived by a daughter, Shirley McCowan and husband Blane of Ramer, TN; a sister, Ota Cordia of OH; a brother, Edward West of OH; two grandchildren, Joseph McCowan of Pickwick, TN, Tahnee Pittman and husband Jeff of White Bluff, TN; nine great grandchildren, Joey McCowan Jr., Seth David McCowan Puryear, Shania McCowan Puryear, Brandon Kyle, Jacob Pittman, Jace Pittman, Jessica Thomas, Nichole Holloway and Amber Holloway; host of extended family and friends.

In addition to her parents, Mrs. Howard was preceded in death by her husband, Hershel Howard in January of 1990; a daughter, Carolyn Faye Howard; four sisters, Ollie Gibson, Ruby Starcher, Delcie Kendall, Elizabeth West; three brothers, James West, Duke West and Homer West.