Mr. Tommy Clay Howell, age 73, of Bell Buckle, passed away Tuesday, Nov., 4, 2014. He was born September 6, 1941, in Roane County, Tennessee, to the late John Scruggs and Ethel Mae Armour Howell.  He was a member of New Beginnings Baptist Church in Shelbyville, Tenn.

He was a retired trainer of Tennessee Walking Horses. Howell judged at the Celebration in 1981,1987, 1992, 1994, 1996 and 2008. He was also known for his many World Championships in the Model Pleasure Mares division with A Very Special Lady, Honky Tonk Tessie and In Vogue. His most recent World Championship was with Halle Berry in the Model Pleasure Mares class in 2007.


Tommy Howell at In Vogue at the 2005 Celebration.

Survivors include his wife, Roberta Kidd Howell, of Bell Buckle; two step-sons, Darren Kidd, of Murfreesboro, and Jason Kidd, of Lewisburg; favorite mother in law, Evelyn Richards, of Lynchburg; step-daughter, Krystal Neal, of Murfreesboro; a brother, John Howell,  of Athens, TN; three sisters, Mary Pickel, of Athens, Peggy (Tom) Lee, of Loudon, TN, and Linda Glass, of Murfreesboro; two grandchildren, Madison Kidd, and Brandon Kidd; nieces and nephews, Courtney Bohannon, Leslie Glass, Chris Pickel, Forrest Lee, Jeff Lee, Tom Lee, and Gary Howell.
Feldhaus Memorial Chapel is assisting the family with the arrangements.

Arrangements are as follows; Visitation will be held at Feldhaus Memorial Chapel in Shelbyville, Tenn., on Friday, Nov., 7, 2014, from 4:00 - 7:00 pm. Burial will be held on Saturday, Nov., 8, 2014, at Memorial Gardens in Sweetwater, Tenn.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family during this difficult time.

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