Leta Jane Howes

1930 – 2017

Agawam - Leta Jane (Ray) Howes, 87, of West Springfield, passed away on Friday October 27, 2017.  She was born on March 15, 1930 in Springfield to the late Ralph and Ruth (Hegeman) Ray.  She was predeceased by her sister Norma Davidson in 2003.  Leta graduated from West Springfield High School in 1948, New England Baptist Hospital School of Nursing in 1951, and was an RN at Shriner's Hospital in Springfield, MA.  She married the love of her life on April 30, 1955 and had four daughters.  She and Will enjoyed many trips to Hawaii and Cape Cod.  Leta loved decorating for the holidays, baking, her miniatures collection, her perennial garden and feeding her backyard birds. She is survived by her beloved husband Wilbur "Will" Howes of West Springfield, daughters Susan (James) of Ponte Vedra, FL, Ruth of West Springfield, Cynthia (James) of Chester, VT and Deborah (James) of West Springfield, grandchildren Michael (Jennifer) of MN, Matthew (Sarah) of FL, Tyler of VT, John (Sarah) of ME, Daniel (Tara) of CA, Kevin (Nidhi) of RI, and her great-grandchildren Lucas, Madison, Emma, Charles, and Amelia.  The funeral will be held at the West Springfield Curran-Jones Funeral Home Saturday Nov. 4, 2017 at 10:30am followed by burial in Paucatuck Cemetery.  Visiting hours will be held prior to the funeral home service Saturday from 9:00 – 10:30am.  In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Mittineague Congregational Church, 1840 Westfield Street, West Springfield, MA 01089.  For more details please visit curranjones.com.