Thomas Alan Howell, born October 4, 1963 passed away suddenly on March 24, 2018.

Tom loved the outdoors, he enjoyed hiking, climbing, caving, camping and connecting to the Earth. Throughout his professional career Tom worked as a Drafter and Sales Engineer for SOR Inc. for over 15 years. He also spent several years serving the Kansas Department of Rehabilitation and the Department of Children and Families as a disability advocate. Most recently, Tom served as the Worship Media Coordinator at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church and as an Audio-Visual Technician for the Overland Park Convention Center. 

Tom became an adoptive parent in 2004 and found his greatest joy in being Dad to Natassia, Quiannah and Destiny. Tom was dedicated to helping the girls accomplish their dreams. He built sets for theater productions, helped haul marching band gear to football games and competitions, and ran sound for numerous band and jazz band concerts. He had a special gift for painting nails, applying face-paint on Halloween and wrote the best notes on napkins that showed up in the girls’ school lunch boxes.

Tom is preceded in death by his brother, Rick. He is survived by his parents, Pat and Jerry Howell (Arizona), sister Deb Smart and her husband Jim (Arizona), daughters Natassia, Quiannah and Destiny Howell and their mother Ginny Howell (Kansas), and nieces and nephews that he dearly loved.

The family has made arrangements for a private service per Tom’s request. Those who loved him and want to honor his memory are encouraged to do random acts of kindness because Tom would often quietly take care of something for someone else just because he knew it would brighten their day. Pay for the order behind you in the drive-thru lane, mow your neighbor’s yard, pass along a good book to a friend that you think will benefit from reading it….the thoughtful, kind things you think of doing but then slip your mind in the midst of your busyness- go do them!

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the following organizations:

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) is a voluntary health organization that gives those affected by suicide a nationwide community empowered by research, education and advocacy to take action against this leading cause of death. www.afsp.org

The mission of the The Tom Karlin Foundation (TKF) is to improve the quality of teens’ lives and reduce teen suicides through education and awareness of depression, suicide prevention and mental wellness. www.tomkarlinfoundation.com

Arrangements:  Royer Funeral Home, Oak Grove, MO   816-690-4441