Dorothy "Dottie" Howe

Dorothy Butler Howe (Russell) passed away at home in Santa Fe, Texas after a short illness on November 17th with her husband Jim at her side. She leaves behind a grand garden of family and friends that she cultivated during her 85 years on Earth.

Born to Hollis and Phoebe Butler (Sanders) on March 25th, 1940 in Corning, New York, Dottie went on to graduate from Addison High School in 1957. While attending SUNY Fredonia, she met her first husband Ronald Howe. They married on June 6th, 1959 and remained wed until his passing on October 13th, 2015.
After graduating from Fredonia, she moved to Burke, New York and built a family. She went on to graduate from SUNY Potsdam with a Master's in education, allowing her to teach for the Malone School district for 40 years.
On May 31st, 2019, she married Jim Russell, former co-owner of Sandy's Tax Service in Malone, New York. With him, she moved to Santa Fe, Texas where she would bless a whole new state with her antics.
Dottie was the definition of a Renaissance woman. She played French horn, and the organ, was always creating crafts, sewing, reading, organizing cookie marathons, or gardening. Her love of Siamese cats was legendary. She had too many to count or name, but each was as unique and quirky as she was. There was a drive inside her to excel, which grew into an infectious competitive spirit. Beating Dottie at rummy was a real challenge and she definitely never cheated by "accidentally" miscounting her points.
Everyone she met discovered a magnetic personality, filled with spirit, love, contradictions, and humor. She could be the most hopeless of romantics while remaining an independent force of nature. She could be effortlessly funny, yet maintained the stern countenance needed to teach a rowdy bunch of teens. When Dottie told a story, she captivated her audience like an actress in a stage play. Though the story may have been enhanced since you last heard it, her penchant for the dramatic made the little exaggerations all that more exciting. No matter what, there was never a dull moment with Dottie: she made sure of it.

She is predeceased by her first husband Ronald Howe, son Shawn Howe, and sisters Clara Bliss and Joan Feasley.
Dottie is survived by her husband Jim, son Kim (Marla) Howe of Winter Haven FL, daughter Heidi (Paul) Ricci of Auburn, NY, son Corey (Jennifer) Howe of Mooers, NY, sisters Linda Wilson of Clover, SC, Karen Easter of Potsdam, NY, Dawn Lebbon of Chester, South Carolina, and brother Robert Clark of Addison, NY, grandchildren Kim Best, William Andre, Jeffery Andre, Elise Bowe, Stephanie Kitt, Shane Howe, Allison Payne, Mikayla Bushey, Gina Collins, Isabella Bogdasarov, Tzain Howe, Remy Howe, Ava Howe, Maeve Howe, and Michele Howe, as well as 16 great grandchildren.

Calling hours will be held on Tuesday, November 25 from 2 to 4 P.M. and 6 to 8 P.M. at Frary Funeral Home, 530 East Main Street, Malone, NY, 12953. A funeral will be held on Wednesday, November 26 at Frary Funeral Home at 10:00am with President David White officiating. Burial will be held in the spring at North Burke Cemetery.
Online condolences to the Howe family can be made at www.fraryfuneralhome.com