Lyle Truitt Howard

Lyle Truitt Howard was born to Otis and Ora Howard on July 31,1935 in Granite, Oklahoma. He was the youngest of three sons. His older brothers were Dale and Jerry Howard. Lyle grew up in Granite and graduated from Granite High School in 1953. After High School, he served 4 years in the Army with the 46th Surgical Hospital. He was awarded The Good Conduct Medal while serving in the US Army. After Lyle’s service in the Army, he attended Panhandle State University. He graduated in 1961 with a degree in Education. His first teaching job was in Two Buttes, CO. He taught and coached in Two Buttes until the school closed in 1965. Lyle came to Springfield and continued teaching and coaching until his retirement in 1990. After his retirement from teaching, he drove a mail route to Boise City, OK for Bill Self. He was also the Guy in charge of mowing, weed pulling, watering, driving wherever needed to pick up plants or doing anything he could to help out at the Aspen Leaf. Lyle was a bachelor, until one summer he was helping at the school with some summer maintenance, and he got to know Pat Stewart. He invited her for a hamburger after work and the rest is history. They were married June 15, 1981. With that marriage came two, somewhat adult children, Kurt and Cindy. After being single and having no children for 46 years, needless to say, his life was about to change. Lyle was a wonderful Husband and Dad. He truly had the patience of a Saint. Lyle became “Papa Joe” in 1983 when his first Grandchild was born. He was beyond proud of his Granddaughters, Erin, Ramsey, Whitney, Ryleigh and Shaylee. Later he gained bonus grandkids Beau, Brinlyn, Braylee and Brooks. In 2009 he became a Great Grandfather. Kaiden, Jersey, Braxton, Ryker, Mason, Hunter, Ryder, Owen and Joelle quickly became his pride and joy. Not a day went by that he didn’t ask about his grandkids and what they were doing, what sport were they playing or how many points did they have? Sports were always Lyle’s favorite thing. He coached Springfields’ girls first High School basketball team and continued to coach until 1978. Over the years he coached Jr High boys and girls basketball, High School Football, High School girls and boys basketball and High School Baseball. Alongside his good friend Ron Masterson, they coached a 2nd place State Baseball team in 1978. Lyle knew endless stats and sports trivia along with knowledge on about every subject imaginable. But he would never share his knowledge unless you asked him a question. A guaranteed way to engage in a conversation with him was to bring up sports. He remembered everyone he ever coached and probably had a story to share about them. He had a deep love for the game of baseball and was a life long fan of the St. Louis Cardinals. Lyle’s health began to decline in 2019. He suffered a heart attack that resulted in a quadruple bypass at the age of 84. Just a few days before his heart attack, he was still mowing his yard and keeping everything in tip top shape. In August of ‘24 Lyle went into the nursing home in Springfield. He never complained about having to go there. It took a little time for him to adjust but soon he was enjoying playing Bingo and he had a drawer full of candy from his winnings. He never complained, never lost his temper, never talked bad about anyone or never shared gossip…He truly had a heart of gold. The only thing he may have done was to thump you on the noggin if you weren’t paying attention in class! Lyle knew the Lord from the early years of his life and went to be with his Savior on May 8, 2025. He will be deeply missed by his wife Pat of 44 years; Children: Kurt and Chambrey Stewart, and Rob and Cindy Patterson; Grandchildren: Erin Stewart, Kaidan and Hunter; Ramsey Stewart, Braxton and Ryder; Whitney and Brett Wilson and Jersey; Ryleigh Jacobs and Matt Dorrance, Ryker and Mason; Shaylee and Tony Mustari, Owen and Joelle; and, Beau, Brinlyn, Braylee and Brooks. A graveside service for Lyle is scheduled for Saturday, June 28, 2025 at 1:00 p.m. at the Springfield Cemetery.