Yvette C. Howell, of Coeur d’Alene, passed away with her family at her bedside on May 27, 2015 at Kootenai Health from complications following surgery for a fractured hip.  She was born August 21, 1926 in Ville-Pommeroeul, Belgium, to Marthe (Mahieu) and Alfred Letot. She graduated from St. Andrews Catholic School in Charleroi, Belgium. 

After surviving World War II, Yvette’s adventuresome spirit led her to the U.S. where she proudly became a U.S. citizen.   In 1950, Yvette married Thomas Arthur Howell in Tulsa, Oklahoma. For the next 15 years, Yvette and Tom, along with their four children, would travel abroad for Tom’s work, residing in Australia, the Philippines, and Germany.  In 1965, Yvette fell in love with Horace “Willie” Williams and the two would spend the next 47 years together.  They owned and operated several successful businesses in Southern California.  Upon retiring in 1994, they relocated to Hayden Lake, where they lived until they relocated to Coeur d’Alene in 2010.

Yvette enjoyed golfing, visiting with her many friends, and spending time with her family.  She was generous, kind and compassionate, had an amazingly positive attitude and a delightfully playful personality.  She will be missed dearly by all who knew her.

Yvette is preceded in death by her parents Marthe and Alfred Letot; her love of 47 years “Willie” Williams; her brother Alfred Letot; her brother-in-law Mike Warrett; and her niece Yvette Myers and nephews Jacques Letot and Andrew Myers.  Yvette is survived by her four children and their spouses:  Dean and Tamzin Howell of England, Sherry and Galen Buckley of California, Anita and Mike Kelly of Louisiana, and Sandy and Kent Scanlon of Idaho; her sister Irene (Letot) Warrett of Spain; grandchildren Summer, Madelyn and Matthew; and many Belgian cousins, nieces and nephews.

A private Celebration of Life was held May 27, 2015.  Yates Funeral Home has been entrusted with the care of final arrangements.  Yvette's online memorial may be viewed at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com.  In lieu of flowers, the family requests a memorial contribution to a charity of choice.