Mary Ellen Howe

Mary Ellen Wilson Howe, 80, of Bent Creek, Asheville, died Friday, April 30, 2004, at her home. Mary Ellen was born August 12, 1923, in Baltimore, MD and was a daughter of the late Harry O. and Mary E. Wilson. Mary Ellen attended Bucknell and graduated with honors in French and Art History from Syracuse University. She also studied at Parsons School of Design. She was a 30 year resident of Harbor Bluffs in Largo, FL. She owned and operated State Realty and was a commercial real estate broker and commercial park developer for 50 years in Largo. Mary Ellen received many accolades for her achievements in real estate and was the first woman in the state of Florida to obtain the CCIM designation. She was also a member of the Graduate Realtors Institute and the Farm and Land Brokers. She was the education coordinator for the Clearwater Largo Dunedin Board of Realtors for many years and was instrumental in developing the Real Estate course at St. Petersburg Junior College. She was also a member of the Committee of 100 in Clearwater and was a vice-president of the Florida Planning and Zoning Association. She was active in many charities and educational institutions including past vice-president of the Science Center of St. Petersburg. She was an active member of First United Methodist Church of Clearwater. Her family includes two daughters, Mary Alice Chutter and her husband John of Asheville and Janice Ellen Engman and her husband Gene of Sarasota, FL; one son, Owen Wilson Howe and his wife Bonita of Muncie, IN; six grandchildren, Jason Engman, Alicia Engman, Luke Howe, Timothy Howe, Austin D.J. Gerken and Joseph Chutter; and one great-granddaughter Ruby Grace Gerken. A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Sunday at Crossroads Assembly of God with the Rev. Michael Brown officiating. Her family will receive friends at the church 30 minutes prior to the service. Memorials may be made to Crossroads Assembly of God, 20 South Bear Creek Road, Asheville, NC 28806.