Geraldine "Gerry" Howard-Marth of Mountain Home, Arkansas, passed away June 30, 2021, in Mountain Home, Arkansas at the age of 87. She was born April 10, 1934, at Belmont Hospital in Chicago, Illinois, the daughter of John and Hazel McLeish Cole. She married Duane R. Howard on May 16, 1953, in Grant Park, Illinois. Gerry and Duane moved to Mountain Home, Arkansas, in 1970 to help run the family business, Cole-Bilt Portable Buildings. Gerry was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Mountain Home since 1970. Gerry was a beloved mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Duane, on November 7, 1987. She was also preceded in death by her second husband, Neil Marth; her parents, John and Hazel Cole; and her brother, Harry Cole.
Gerry is survived by her son, John (Becky) Howard of Fayetteville, AR; two daughters, Susanne (Phil) Keplinger of Mountain Home, AR, and Beth (Larry) Ivens of Henderson, AR; grandchildren, Michael (Tiffany) Ivens, Chris (Stacy) Howard, Heather (Obed) Pantoja, Bobby Howard, and Timmy Keplinger; and great-grandchildren, Callyn and Harvey Howard, with another great-grandchild on the way.
Visitation will be Wednesday, July 7, 2021, from 2:00 pm until service time, at Kirby & Family Funeral Home. Funeral Services will be 3:00 pm, Wednesday, July 7, 2021, at Kirby & Family Funeral Home Chapel, with Reverend Randy Ludwig officiating. Burial will be in the Kirby's Tucker Memorial Cemetery, Mountain Home, Arkansas, with John Howard, Chris Howard, Bobby Howard, Phil Keplinger, Timothy Keplinger, Larry Ivens, Michael Ivens, and Obed Pantoja as pallbearers.
Memorials may be made to Hospice of the Ozarks, Humane Society of North Central Arkansas, or First United Methodist Church.
Arrangements are by Kirby and Family Funeral and Cremation Services - Mountain Home, Arkansas.