November 5, 1944 ~ November 2, 2014

Lester passed away unexpectedly yet peacefully while asleep at his home on Sunday, November 2, 2014 at the age of 69. Lester was born November 5, 1944 in Santa Fe, New Mexico to his parents, Allie Lee (Chester) and Roy Lester Howard, Sr., while his father was stationed in Las Cruces, New Mexico in the United States Army. Following their Army commitments, Roy and Allie moved to their native Oklahoma, to eventually pursue their dreams of opening a florist shop in the thriving Capitol Hill area of South Oklahoma City. In 1956, while raising their two sons Lester and Jerry and developing their new business venture, Lester fell ill to the polio virus epidemic at the age of 12, and spent the following 18 months fighting for his life in an "iron lung" breathing machine. However, through a multi-year grueling, convalescent period realized during his formative years, Lester's drive to persevere unknowingly began to flourish. Following Lester's acute childhood illness, he attended public school in south Oklahoma City at Heronville Elementary, eventually leading to his graduation from Capitol Hill High School in 1962. Lester with his "larger-than-life" charisma and charm eventually met his sweetheart Carol Jean Pritchard in Capitol Hill, and married August 30, 1968. Following their marriage vows, Lester and Carol permanently settled in South Oklahoma City, and likewise became fixtures of their thriving young community. Their marriage has endured the tests of time as she was at his side literally until his untimely death. Soon after Lester's graduation from high school and marriage to Carol, he set out to learn the craft of the florist business with his father, Roy and uncle, Ray Howard at Howard Brother's Florist. As pioneers in progressive floral management, the entire family worked tirelessly to provide the finest floral services to the Oklahoma City metro, for more than a century, earning local and national accolades to include "Top 300 Florist in the Nation" by Teleflora, multiple awards by local publications to include the Daily Oklahoman's "Reader's Choice Award" and most recently, recognized in the national publication "Flowers&" as a top florist in the United States. As Lester perfected his craft of floral sales, management and customer service, his love for South Oklahoma City was always the forefront of his passion. A longtime member of the South Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce, serving as President in 1987 & currently he was the Chairman of the Envision 240 Beautification Committee. The friendships that he formed have endured for decades. Lester was a longtime member of the Oklahoma City Tips Club, founder of the Oklahoma City Florist Co-Operative, member of the Oklahoma City Breakfast Club, and was appointed in mid 90's by the Governor of Oklahoma to the State Insurance Commission. A regular local host of the Easter Seals Telethon in Oklahoma City and presented the 2011 George B. Lewis Award by the Oklahoma City Mayor's Committee on Disability Concerns, his devotion to the betterment of mankind was endearing. In February of 2014, Lester was extremely proud to be surrounded by his entire family, friends and colleagues and be surprised with the award of 2013 Citizen of the Year at a black tie gala of the South Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce, for his tireless work to continually improve the status of South Oklahoma City, and his ongoing service to his community. However, Lester's love for his customers, business, community and philanthropy was only eclipsed by the love and passion he had for his wife Carol, children Lance and Candice, and beloved grandchildren Avry, Canon, Channing, and Kennedy. Known simply as "Dad, Grandpa, or Papa", Lester lived each day to revel in the successes of his family, and his family can certainly trace their successes to the teachings of the consummate gentleman, their Dad. Lester was preceded in death by his: Parents, Allie Lee and Roy Lester Howard, Sr. Lester is survived by his loving: Wife of 46 years, Carol Jean Howard; His daughter, Candice and her husband, Jason Bronson, and their children Canon and Channing; His son, Lance Howard, M.D. and wife, Kari and their children Avry and Kennedy; His brother, Jerry Howard and his wife, Alberta; Lifelong friends and family too numerous to mention, but certainly appreciated and cherished.