Laura Leah Clark Howell was born on Aug. 18, 1919, and passed away Friday, May 29, 2009, at Promise Hospital. She was 89.

Mrs. Howell was a resident of Vicksburg for most of her life.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Bill Howell and her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Leon Clark.

Laura is survived by a daughter, Leah Wheeless and her husband, John; a son, Bill Howell and his wife, Agnes, and a son, Frank Howell and his wife, Lynn; five grandchildren, David Vantrease Jr., Leslie H. Culp, Laurie H. Pederson, Frank Howell Jr. and Kelli Howell; and four great-grandchildren.

Laura graduated from St. Francis Academy and All Saints College. She retired from the Waterways Experiment Station after a long career.

A funeral mass will be held at St. Michael Catholic Church at 10 a.m. Monday with the Rev. P.J. Curley officiating. Visitation will be at Fisher Funeral Home from 3 until 5 p.m. Sunday. A prayer service will follow.

Pallbearers will be David Vantrease Jr., Frank Howell Jr., John Wheeless, Paul Banchetti, Paul Tuccio and Tom Nelson.

Honorary pallbearers will be Dr. Joseph Wilson, Dr. Brain Shockley and the nurses and physicians of Promise Hospital.

Donations may be made to the International Rett Syndrome Foundation, 4600 Devitt Drive, Cincinnati, OH 45246, www. Rettsyndrome.org; St. Michael Catholic Church, 100 St. Michael Place, Vicksburg, MS 39180; or St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 1512 Main St., Vicksburg, MS 39180.