Clarissa “Clary” McMurtrey Howard, age 67, of Huntsville, Alabama, died May 28, 2026, in her hometown. 

Born May 20, 1959, in Linton, Indiana, Clary was the 2nd of 4 childrenof Ernest L. McMurtrey and Mildred L. McMurtrey. Later, they moved to Huntsville, Alabama, where Clary went to elementary, middle, and high school. After high school, she later married and welcomed her first child, Thomas Alexander Howard II, in April 1982. Many years later, she would welcome three more children, Caitlin, Mariel, and Truman.

Clary began working at Hillwood Baptist Church Preschool and Daycare and took care of countless children over the years. She loved her job, the staff, and all of the children she was able to love and take care of as her own. She worked there for 26 years and retired in December 2025 because she wanted to be able to take care of her grandchildren. 

Clary loved Alabama football, her dogs (Pepper and Bear), her grandchildren, cross stitching, and reading the book, The Help. Clary always had a love of Diet Coke and peanut M&Ms. Her favorite verse was the 23rd Psalm, and she enjoyed relaxing weekends of watching movies with her family. Clary had a love of anything and everything Christmas. Christmas music and movies played all day because this was her favorite time of the year. It did not matter the time of year; she was going to celebrate Christmas.

A longtime resident of Huntsville, she was preceded in death by her parents, Ernest and Mildred McMurtrey, and her brother, Lester McMurtrey. She is survived by her children, Thomas Howard II ofHuntsville, Alabama; Caitlin Shepard (Hunt), of Huntsville, Alabama; Mariel Miller (Joshua) of Huntsville, Alabama; and Truman Howard ofHuntsville, Alabama; a sister, Patricia Grimes (Bo) and a brother, James McMurtrey (Pat); and 6 grandchildren (Ava, Sullivan, Levi, Lennox, Theodore, and Violet). 

A Celebration of Life will be conducted at 12 p.m. Saturday, June 6th, at Hillwood Baptist Church. Visitation will be one hour prior to services (11 a.m. - 12 p.m) at Hillwood Baptist Church. To celebrateClary’s vibrant spirit, the family kindly requests that attendees wear bright, joyful colors rather than traditional black. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests making donations to Hillwood Baptist Church Preschool and Daycare, a place near and dear toClary’s heart.