Obituary of Mariko Howell

Loving wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and Coco.  Mariko, 81, passed away peacefully at home on December 26, 2023.  She was born on December 8, 1942, in Tokyo, Japan to Tsuneo Mori and Fujiko (Oga) Mori.  She grew up in Japan with her four siblings and was studying flower arranging.

In 1969, she married Ray Dean Howell in Fukuoka, Japan, who she met while he was stationed in Sasebo, Japan.  Their first son was born at the US Naval station in Sasebo in 1970.  They moved back to the United States and settled in Greeley, Colorado shortly after their daughter was born, in 1973.  Mariko became a citizen of the United States of America in 1986 with the help of her daughter.  After her daughter graduated high school in 1992 she became a full-time nanny to Kenny and Ciara.  In 2003 she also nannied their twin half siblings, Lucas and Danica.

She loved to travel, was an expert on packing suitcases, plus suppling snacks, and taking care of everyone around her.  To the end she was always worried about everyone else’s wellbeing.

Mariko Howell was proceeded in death by her parents, brother Kunikatsu Mori and brother Toshimichi Mori.  She is survived by her sister Mieko, sister Misako and brother Nobuo Mori; her husband, Ray Howell of Greeley, Colorado; son Raymond (Teri) Howell of Kuna, Idaho and daughter Christine (Keith) Phillips of Everett, Washington.  Six grandchildren: Christopher, Kailee, Brittany, Daykota, Tiffany, and Jourdon; and seven great grandchildren.  Lots of family from sisters-in-laws to nephews and nieces.  Plus, her second family; Braden (Allison) Lee, Kenneth (Dana) Monfort, Ciara (Jonathan) Kuiter, Lucas Monfort and Danica Monfort.

A graveside service will be held at 1:00p.m. Friday, April 19, 2024 at Fort Logan National Cemetery.

Condolences may be sent to the family at adamsoncares.com.