ObituaryMary Frances Howard of Fort Myers passed away on June 5, 2007 at the age of 87. She was the wife of the late William Thomas Howard, who preceded her in death in 1995. Mrs. Howard was one of seven children born to Joseph L. Sellers and Mary Louise Hilliard Sellers of Fort Myers and West Palm Beach. Mrs. Howard was a native of Fort Myers, where she was very involved in community and civic activities. Immediately after high school, Mrs. Howard began her contribution to the World War II effort by deferring her plans for a nursing career to work at Buckingham Army Airfield for three years. At war's end, she became the assistant to the community's first pediatrician. Mrs. Howard was active in the First United Methodist Church Alter Guild, the Fort Myers Women's Community Club, the Edison Pageant of Light, and Rotary Anns. She served on the original mayor's committee to restore and maintain the historic Burrough's Home in Fort Myers and organized Town and Gown, a women's support organization for Florida Gulf Coast University, in 1982. She was a member of the Periwinkle Garden Club, Cypress Lake Country Club, the Florida Federation of Garden Clubs, Life Member of the University of South Florida President's Council, and a Foundation Fellow, Florida Gulf Coast University Foundation.Mrs. Howard is survived by her two children, Bill Howard (Karen), and Ann Howard Hamilton, by two grandchildren, Christopher Hamilton and Laura Howard, and by her sister, Louise Sellers Marousis of Vero Beach.A memorial service will be held on Saturday, June 9th at 10:30 a.m. at First United Methodist Church of downtown Ft. Myers. The Reverend Joseph A. Spradlin will officiate. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Harvey-Engelhardt-Metz Funeral Home of Fort Myers. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that gifts be made to First United Methodist Church of Fort Myers or to the Florida Gulf Coast University Foundation.