Sandra June Mouer Mitchell Howard
December 16, 1939 – March 28, 2023
Sandra June Mouer Mitchell Howard, 83 of Bellevue/Papillion passed away on Tuesday March 28, 2023. She was born on December 16, 1939 in Omaha, Nebraska to Simon Revere Mouer Jr. and Luella June Karschner Mouer. She graduated with a full music scholarship from Fair Park High School Shreveport, LA in 1957. Sandy was most well known for her gifts and deep passions for education, the visual and performing arts. Developing those gifts from early childhood to master. She was married to her first husband, Retired Master Gunnery Sgt. Bobby Joe Mitchell and traveled all over the United States supporting him in his career in the United States Marine Corps and making a home for their family while continuing to hone her gifts and share her talents. She graduated with an Associate of Accounting from Technical College of the Lowcountry in Beaufort, SC. pursuing a career in business accounting where she met and married her second husband, Thomas Heflin Howard. Sandy continued developing her gifts returning to school and obtaining a Bachelor of Art Education at Sam Houston State University, Huntsville, TX and pursuing a career in Public School education. Finally continuing on to achieve Master of Education Curriculum and Instruction – Gifted and Talented Education at University of Houston, Houston, Tx. She taught Art in public schools in Houston, Texas retiring after 30 years. Including being honored as teacher of the Year. She also taught private piano, violin and voice lessons to many children while living in Texas and Nebraska. She was a lifelong active church member with her final membership at St James United Methodist Church of Bellevue, Nebraska. Sandy shared her passions throughout her lifetime. She performed in the Choir including being featured as a soloist. She volunteered at many churches across the country doing everything from starting a church in Hawaii, working in Men’s Jail Ministry, teaching Sunday school and Children’s Choir and mentoring young military wives. She learned to bake from her grandmother and always participated in the Annual Christmas Cookie Fundraiser at St. James. Every year she would host a Christmas Cookie Day at her house with her grandchildren and great grandchildren making her known as (Cookie Grandma). They now carry on this tradition every year. She was always active in her community serving as Girl Scout Leader, Boy Scout Leader, volunteering in multiple public schools across the country. She was a published artist specializing in watercolor, clay sculpture and fashion design. Her legacy was spreading joy all over the United States through her love of art and music. Her extended family and friends will miss all her love, warm hugs, attributes, words of encouragement and all her stories she would tell of her childhood.
She was preceded in death by her parents Simon Revere Mouer Jr. and June Karschner Mouer, her sister Sylvia Mouer, her husband Thomas Heflin Howard and her infant son Bobby Joe Mitchell Jr.
Sandy is survived by her four children, daughter, Sandra Jean Mitchell Choleva and husband Jeff Choleva of Houston, Texas, son, Gregory Paul Mitchell and wife Denise Mitchell of Hallsville, Texas, daughter, Mary Carolyn Mitchell of Papillion, Nebraska and daughter Samantha Anne Mitchell Versch of Omaha, Nebraska; siblings, brothers, Simon Revere Mouer III, Clinton Leigh Mouer and sister Mary Lynn Mouer Duston; grandchildren, Sandra Marie Choleva Billingsley (Jason), Samantha Jane Choleva, Margaret June Choleva, Jeffrey John Choleva II, Evelyn Rae Taylor Wilson (James), Keri Lea Taylor, Nikita Anne Spahn, Thomas Walter Bender, James Edward McCarthy Jr, Christina Marie Capotrio (Colby), Anthony Joseph Capotrio, Sarah Rene Mitchell, Emily Anne Mitchell VanDusen (Hal), Elizabeth Grace Mitchell; her great grandchildren Haley Marie Schwing, Lawrence Caden Schwing, Lukas Conrad Schwing, Emery June Billingsley, Justin Michael Brock Jr, Timothy Ivan Berman Jr, Samuel Jameson Berman, Crixus – Osirus Alexander Nelson, Noah James Dennis, Lillian Serenity Dennis, Tama’si Autumn Wilson, Vivien Sylvia Wilson, Reeve Orion Graves, Vincent Phillip Vallejo, Vander Edward Vallejo, Evolette Mary Angelita Spahn, Anya-Jade Sirena Spahn, Sumaria Nikita Ballard, Coltin Haze Holmes, Riley Jade McCarthy, Rowan Joseph Holmes, Autumn Sophia Holguin and Amberlin Rose Holguin.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Friday, April 21, at 2:00 pm at St James United Methodist Church – Franklin Campus, 1501 Franklin St. Bellevue, Nebraska 68005.
To view a video of the service, click the link below.
https://boxcast.tv/view/sandra-june-howard-iiymlyummqcvfzeqcjxz
In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Save The Music Foundation in memory of Sandy Howard. The link is below.
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