HOWARD STAPLES PASSED AWAY IN OLIVE BRANCH, MISSISSIPPI ON FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2015. HE WAS BORN IN TUSCUMBIA, ALABAMA ON MARCH 17, 1938 AND GRADUATED FROM DESHLER HIGH SCHOOL IN 1956
WHERE HE EXCELLED IN BOTH BASKETBALL AND FOOTBALL, GARNERING ALL-STATE FOOTBALL HONORS IN 1955. HOWARD WAS A MASTER SEARGENT IN THE ARMY NATIONAL GUARD IN FLORENCE, ALABAMA FOR MANY YEARS. HE MOVED WITH HIS FAMILY TO FLORIDA IN THE LATE 60’S WHERE HE WAS EMPLOYED IN MANAGEMENT WITH MONTGOMERY WARD FOR MOST OF HIS CAREER. HE LOVED WATCHING HIS SONS PARTICIPATE IN SPORTING EVENTS AND ALSO ENJOYED TAKING THEM TO MANY COLLEGE AND PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL GAMES THROUGH THE YEARS.
HOWARD WAS PRECEEDED IN DEATH BY HIS MOTHER AND FATHER, LOUISE ELLIOTT STAPLES AND MORRIS ARTHUR STAPLES, AND SISTER DORIS STAPLES HYDE. HE IS SURVIVED BY HIS SISTER MARY NELL CROWE (DOUG) OF DALLAS, TEXAS, HIS 3 SONS; JOHN (STACI) OF MACCLENNY,FL., JEFF OF TAMPA,FL. AND BEAU OF AVON PARK,FL.
5 GRANDCHILDREN; GRANDSON SHANE OF VIERA,FL. AND 4 GRANDAUGHTERS KNOWN AS THE “A”TEAM, AUDREY BERGEY (ALEX) OF WASHINGTON D.C., ALANA STAPLES OF ORLANDO,FL., ADDISON AND ALLI STAPLES OF MACCLENNY,FL. HE HAS ONE GREAT GRANDAUGHTER ALIVIA SENSENEY OF ORLANDO,FL. HOWARD IS ALSO SURVIVED BY 2 NIECES AND 2 NEPHEWS.
A REMEMBERANCE WILL BE HELD THIS SUMMER IN THE TRI-CITIES TO HONOR A FATHER AND FRIEND. FOR FURTHER DETAILS PLEASE EMAIL HIS SON John.Staples@bakerk12.org