Raymond Howland, Jr.

Raymond Bruce (Ray) Howland II was born on August 30, 1934 to Raymond Bruce and Violet (Hout) Howland on the family farm in Formoso, Kansas. He was the oldest of four children. He passed away on April 18, 2025 at Hilltop Lodge in Beloit, Kansas at the age of 90.

Ray went to a small country school between the farm and Formoso, yes, walking to school both ways in the snow. He then graduated high school at Formoso High School at the age of 17.

On July 30, 1952, he married Beth Hutchison and they had three children, Don, Jerry, and Dixie. They had their own farm near the family farm, which he worked as well as working on farm equipment in Jewell and driving a truck hauling hogs at night. He then took a position with the Kansas Park Service and they moved to Independence, Kansas. This union was later dissolved.

On December 21, 1970, he married Neva June (Bayes) MaGee and welcomed her four children into his family. Together they had one more child, Raymond Bruce Howland III.

After a few years at the Elk City Park, he was offered the manager position at the newly developed Glen Elder State Park, so they moved back closer to home. One of his proudest accomplishments was building this budding young park into what it is today.

After leaving the park system, he joined the Beloit Police Department for a couple of years before getting back into trucking. After "retirement", he started helping Jed Black, Brad Remus, and later, Stan Schoen farming until he could no longer get into the equipment. But even then, he would sit at the edge of the field "supervising" or running for parts.

He was all about helping others, which led to his time as an EMT, Rescue Squad, and a certified First Aid/CPR instructor.

He and Neva loved square dancing, traveling all over, and earning several championship trophies. They loved camping and were members of several camping clubs. He loved meeting new people and making new friends everywhere.

They spent countless evenings playing Pitch, Rummy, and Marbles with friends and family. He loved woodworking and going to the auctions (he loved the treasures he found in those dollar boxes).

He loved spending time with his grandkids. He always had a smile on his face and was up for a visit with anyone.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife Neva; son, Jerry Howland; son-in-law, Larry Ward; brothers-in-law, Don Fleming and Ron Koehn; and his sister-in-law, Helen Howland.

Survivors include his sisters, Ruth Fleming of Formoso and Rita Koehn of Lawrence, Kansas; brother, Clark Howland of Formoso; sons, Don (Luisa) Howland of Osborne, Bud (Misty) Howland of Cawker City; daughter, Dixie Ward of Colony, Kansas; stepsons, Kenny (Jane) MaGee of Bartlesville, Oklahoma, and Bill MaGee of Wichita; stepdaughters, Roselyn (Dale) Sweaney of Sedan, Kansas, and Kayla (Tim) Crossland of Paola, Kansas; as well as 25 grandchildren; 52 great-grandchildren; 16 great-great-grandchildren; and a host of family, friends, and caregivers.

Funeral services will be at 2 PM Friday, April 25 at the Roberts Family Funeral Home followed by burial in Prairie Grove Cemetery at Cawker City. Visitation will be from 1-7 PM, with family present from 5-6 PM Thursday at the funeral home. Memorials may be given to the Solomon Valley Transportation.