Nancy Guy Howell

May 18, 1938 - September 9, 2016

Nancy, age 78, of Hawkinsville GA, died peacefully at her home on September 9, 2016. At her side were her partner of 26 years, Thomas McClain and their dog, Titania. Also present were Nancy and Tom’s collection of stuffed animals with whom Tom and Nancy had intimate acquaintances. An animal often joined them for dinner, contributing to the conversation with wit and humor and often misbehaving just to the point of hilarity but no further. Nancy’s temper would permit a bit of disrespect, but Tom often had to try to restrain animals so as to keep them in Nancy’s good graces. Mona, one of Nancy’s favorites, flew with her to Kalamazoo Michigan and kissed the ground upon arrival there. Although many people wondered what was wrong with them, Tom and Nancy were happy with these third parties who injected humor and sympathy in the family home and on trips. Born in Afton, NY to C. Wayland and Florence Guy, she was the youngest of four children. She is pre-deceased by her brothers Loren and James, as well as her husband Carl Howell. Nancy is survived by her sister Betsy (Elizabeth G Hayes) of Burdett, NY, her step-children Jackie Carver and Russell Howell, and many nieces and nephews as well as grand nieces and nephews in California, Arizona, Illinois and New York. Nancy graduated from William Smith College and later received a Masters Degree in Library Science from Syracuse University. She loved basketball, and remained a loyal Orange fan to the end. She could spout statistics about Syracuse’s basketball team with the best of them. Nancy would have made an excellent sportscaster for the Orangemen. Early in her adult life she was an elementary school librarian in Harpursville (loved children but hated having to control them) and later she was an especially perspicacious bank loan officer for NBT in Norwich. Horses were Nancy’s intense and life-long passion. Whether at the Afton Fair, of which she was President for many years, or racing and training standardbreds in Georgia, Michigan and Ohio, she was happiest in a stable. Nancy especially loved teaching children that horses have feelings and that they need to be treated with respect and the greatest care as they were when in Tom and Nancy’s care. None of the horses that she and Tom trained were world class champions. As Tom puts it, they were “blue collar horses.” Nancy didn’t really care whether a horse won or lost. Jan’s Best, for whom Nancy had a special and deep love, was one such “castoff horse” who recently won a race. Nancy rarely cooked for humans, but every horse in the stable was fed what they were supposed to get twice a day. During her yearly visits to her sister in upstate N.Y., she called Tom nightly and spouted off different recipes for each horse in the barn, keeping close tabs from afar. Due to youthful ailments, Nancy took care never to over exert. She liked couches and recliners and wasted not one iota of energy. She suffered for at least 15 years with congestive heart failure, and recently she was diagnosed with cancer. Despite physical limitations, Nancy had a generous heart and she used her talents to help family, friends and strangers in need. Titania spent the last few weeks by Nancy’s side, and she gave her cheek a lick goodbye. Sadly we now say our own goodbyes. Nancy’s memorial service will be held on Thursday, September 22nd at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Hawkinsville at 11:00 in the morning. In lieu of flowers, please send a donation to the charity of your choice. At the family’s convenience, burial will be in Afton, NY. Clark Funeral Home of Hawkinsville, Georgia in charge of arrangements. Please view or sign the online obituary at www.clarkfuneralhawkinsville.com