Constance Jean Howell

Constance “Connie” Jean Howell, age 91, of Houston, Texas, passed away peacefully on February 26, 2026. She was born August 30, 1934, in Tracy, Minnesota, to Thomas and Violet Hellyer.

Connie’s early years were shaped by her family’s many moves across the upper Midwest. Her father worked as a miner in Butte, Montana, a place in which she recalled having fun playing in winter snow as a girl. Connie took the opportunity in later years to return and visit this that held many pleasant childhood memories for her. After an accident in the mines, the family relocated to Portland, Oregon, where her father received the medical care he needed, later working as a city streetcar and bus driver for Rose City Transit. Connie grew up in the St. Johns neighborhood of Portland and graduated from Roosevelt High School in 1952. As a girl, she worked summers at the local municipal park pool and carried a lifelong love of swimming. During these years, she formed deep and lasting friendships with Janice Keliher and Donna Brown—friendships she cherished throughout her life.

In 1953, Connie married Brady Smith, and together they welcomed a son, Bradley Thomas, in 1955. She later married Leo Radke in 1959, and they had three children: Daniel Eric (1960), Chris Alan (1961), and Lorraine May (1963). Leo’s career took the family to many places across the country and abroad, including Portland, Oregon; Winston-Salem, North Carolina; Antigua in the British West Indies; Succasunna and Flemington, New Jersey; Santa Maria, California; Damascus, Oregon; and ultimately Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, where they settled on Ski Island Lake.

A firm but loving mother, Connie came to faith in Jesus Christ in 1964 while living in Succasunna, New Jersey, through the joyful witness of her neighbor, Olga Ribe, at Hillside Lutheran Brethren Church. After her children were grown, she worked in Oklahoma City as a secretary and retail specialist for Dolese Brothers Co., Dillard’s Department Store, and Macy’s.

Connie later married David Howell, a gracious Welshman with whom she shared a love of travel and family. Together they journeyed to Wales where she was accepted into his extended family. David passed away about a year after their Las Vegas wedding, a loss Connie felt deeply. She later returned to Wales on her own to revisit his family, whom she continued to hold dear.

After retiring, Connie moved in 1994 to Yuma, Arizona, to be near her aging parents. Following their passing, she returned to Oklahoma City in 2002 to be closer to her three youngest children. In her later years, she poured much affection into caring for her beloved pets—a fickle cat named Fleck and a faithful dog named Zella. As her memory declined, Connie moved to assisted living in Houston in 2018, first to Autumn Grove Cottage at Copperfield and later to Village on the Park Steeplechase, where “Miss Connie” was tenderly cared for and surrounded by the love of her family.

Connie was preceded in death by her parents, Thomas and Violet Hellyer; her brother, Calvin Hellyer; her husband, David Howell; and her grandchild, A.G. Radke.

She is survived by her four children and their families, including fifteen grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren: 

Brad and Jeanne Radke, with grandchildren Kris, Kiel, Kellin, Jenniffer, and Thomas, and great-grandchild Aiden; 
Dan and Donna Radke, with grandchildren Victoria, Parker, and Taylor, and great-grandchildren CJ and Adam; 
Chris and Nan Radke, with grandchildren Katie, Sam, and Rebecca, and great-grandchildren Maddie, Chloe, Seth, Gwen, Ellie, Grace, John, and Lily; 
and Lorraine and Eddie Nessman, with grandchildren Kathryn (Ben) Morgan, Carl, Luke, and Rachel, and great-grandchild Eli.

Connie will be remembered for her steadfast love for God and her family, and her quiet faith.

In lieu of flowers the family would appreciate gifts be given in memory of Connie to Cure Alzheimer’s Fund or Alzheimer Research Foundation.