GRAND RIVERS — Mr. Ernest L. Howell, age 70, of Grand Rivers, Ky., died Monday, September 10, 2012, at his home. Born February 12, 1942, in Grand Rivers, Ky., he was a member of the Grand Rivers Missionary Baptist Church and a member of the Smithland Masonic Lodge #138. Mr. Howell was retired from Reed Crushed Stone where he worked as a drill foreman and blaster.

He was the son of the late Wallace Howell and the late Helen Ernestine (Flannery) Howell.

He is survived by two daughters, Rhonda Henson and husband William Keith of Benton, Ky., Greathern Ann Howell of Grand Rivers, Ky.; one son, Joseph “Joe” Ernest Howell of Grand Rivers, Ky., sisters, Barbara Nell Harrell of Fairdealing, Ky., Janis Brown of Grand Rivers, Ky., Rebecca Smith of Grand Rivers, Ky., Juanita Rowland of Iuka, Ky.; brothers, Hubert Howell of Gilbertsville, Ky., Herbert Howell of Iuka, Ky., Alvin Lynn Howell of Okla., Malcolm Howell of Benton, Ky., Dwight David Howell of Chattanooga, Tenn.; grandchildren,  Jessica Howell of Cadiz, Ky., Danielle Howell of Cadiz, Ky., Jason Eric Skinner of Grand Rivers, Ky., Theresa Renee’ Warren of Benton, Ky., James Ryan Shelburn of Benton, Ky.;  great-grandchildren, Zoe Skinner of Grand Rivers, Ky., Tristan Warren of Benton, Ky., Austin Skinner of Grand Rivers, Ky., Brennan Cole Warren of Benton, Ky.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife of 52 years, Dorothy (Sanders) Howell; one brother, James Arland Howell; one grandchild, Aaron Michael Skinner; one great-grandchild, Jayden Nicole Warren.

Funeral service will be held Wednesday, September 12, 2012, at 1:00 p.m. in the Chapel of the Collier Funeral Home in Benton, Ky. Rev. Andrew Sexton and Rev. Mark Gill will officiate.

Visitation will be held after 9:00 a.m. Wednesday, September 12, 2012, until the funeral hour at 1:00 p.m. at the Collier Funeral Home in Benton, Ky. Interment will follow the service in the Iuka Cemetery, Iuka, Ky.

Arrangements are being handled by Collier Funeral Home, P.O. Box 492, Benton, Ky.

The family requests that memorial contributions be made in Mr. Howell’s honor to the Grand Rivers Baptist Church, 1699 J.H. O’Bryan Ave., Grand Rivers, KY 42045, or to the Marshall County Relay for Life, 3140 Parisa Drive, Paducah, KY 42003.