Howard Henderson

Howard Lee Henderson passed away peacefully at Windsor Place in Coffeyville, Kansas on March 5, 2022, following a short illness resulting from a heart attack he suffered in November 2021.

Howard was born on June 29, 1930 in Arkansas City, Kansas to Arthur and Jessie (Brown) Henderson.  The Henderson family moved to Caney, Kansas in 1944 when Howard’s father purchased a 400-acre farm northwest of Caney.

Howard was a proud member of the Caney High School Class of 1949. He was a stellar football player, starting on both the offensive and defensive sides of the line during all four years of high school, and was the Bullpup’s team captain his senior year. Following high school he earned a football scholarship to Coffeyville Junior College, where he played two seasons for the Red Ravens.

He would remain a life-long Bullpup fan, never missing a football game, always walking the sidelines to be close to the action.  His love of football led him into coaching little league football teams in San Diego, CA, Salt Lake City, UT, Mannheim, Germany and Caney, KS.

Howard was drafted into the United States Army in 1951 and after completing basic training at Fort Lewis, Washington he served with the 7th Infantry Division in Korea, during the Korean War.  He would go on to serve his country for 23 years, including a one-year tour of duty in Vietnam before retiring as a Sergeant Major in 1974.

He married the only girl he ever loved Margie Hinton on August 21, 1955 in Ashdown, Arkansas.  The daughter of a pipe liner, Margie was accustomed to frequent home moves and so was well prepared for the life of a soldier’s wife.  Together they moved 16 times, finally settling back in Caney in 1974.

Howard was a devoted and loving son, husband and father but his greatest aspiration was to be a good grandfather, and it was in this role that he excelled.  All of his grandchildren knew that they could always count on their Grandpa Howard, and he never let them down.

He is survived by his sons John (Betty), Jim (Kelley), Jay (Lindsay); nine grandchildren, John Roy, Elizabeth (Dustin), Jake (Elizabeth), Paige (Kenny), TJ, Jackson (Terah), Thomas, Thadd and Riley; and five great grandchildren, Maxwell, Emily, Thea, Tommy and Jack.

He was preceded in death by his wife, one son Joseph Henderson, his parents and a sister Nadine Howell.

Howard was a member of the First Baptist Church and the Cornerstone Church in Caney Kansas.

Visitation will be held at Potts Chapel in Caney on Wednesday, March 9th with the family greeting friends from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM. Graveside services will take place at Sunnyside Cemetery in Caney on Thursday, March 10th at 2:00 PM. The family has requested that memorial contributions be made in Howard’s name to the Caney Recreation Department. To leave the family a special message of condolence, please visit, www.pottsfuneralhome.com.