Our loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother Darla J. Howard, 87, passed away Feb. 25, 2025, with her family by her side. 

Darla J. Cooley Howard was born March 31, 1937, to Wesley and Nora Cooley in Eureka, Montana. 

Shortly afterward the family moved to Troy, Montana and then as a teenager she moved to Libby, Montana. She graduated Libby High School in 1955. She married Marlyn Howard on Aug. 25, 1956. They resided in Libby for over 37 years while they operated Howard’s Electric and Gregg’s Car Wash and Union 76 Station. 

In 1993, they moved to Winnemucca, Nevada where Marlyn worked in a mine for five years before retiring to Lake Havasu City, Arizona where they spent winters for 22 years. In 2000, Marlyn built a house on Savage Lake where they loved spending their summers.

Darla loved her family more than anything else. She was a wonderful grandma to the little ones and loved to watch them grow. She so enjoyed her class reunion lunches each month with old friends. She loved to knit and garden and bake. Most of all she loved the company of her loving husband of 68 years.

Darla was preceded in death by her parents and her brother Oscar Cooley. 

She is survived by her sister, Sharon Keeney, her husband Marlyn, her children Tammy (Steve) Lauer, Connie Spencer and Greg (Lidia) Howard. Her nine grandchildren, Trista, Reesy, Justin, Jonelle, Kyra, Vanessa, Alicia, Nicholas and Janina. Her nine great-grandchildren, many nieces and nephews and extended family and friends.

A celebration of life will be held at a later date.