Alma Louise (Curtis) Howland, 80, of Monticello passed away at 2:00 AM, Saturday, June 6, 2015 at Kirby Hospital. Her funeral service will be held at 2:00 PM, Wednesday June 10, 2015 at the Mackey-Wright Funeral Home with Rev. Greg Courtright officiating. Visitation will be prior to the funeral from 12:30 - 2:00 PM, also at Mackey-Wright Funeral Home. Interment will be in the Monticello Township Cemetery.

Alma was born October 9, 1934 at Mennonite Hospital in Bloomington, Illinois, the daughter of Roger and Helen (Dafoe) Curtis. She married Russell Howland on May 21, 1955 in Farmer City. Russ preceded her in death on November 8, 2010. She also was preceded in death by her parents, one brother Paul Curtis, one sister Vera Mabis and a cherished grandson, Nathan Howland.

Surviving are sons: Robert Lynn (Karin) Howland of Pekin, Richard Lee (Barbara) Howland of White Heath and Russell Dale (Melissa) Howland, Jr. of Eagan, MN. Surviving grandchildren; Nichole (Troy) Louis, Justin (Cindy) Howland, Sean Howland, Russell Dale Howland III, Allison Howland, Kristen Howland and Shannah Howland. Great grandchildren; Canaan Louis, Athalia Louis, Maddi Howland, Lydia Howland, with a fifth great grandchild arriving soon.

Alma graduated from Decatur Memorial in 1955 as a registered nurse. She later attended the University of Illinois and obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in nursing. She loved the nursing profession. She worked at Kirby Hospital, and then for Dr. George Green in Monticello and at Burnham City Hospital in Champaign.

She also worked alongside of her husband, Russ, on the family farm in White Heath, Illinois. Over the years, Alma was very actively involved in service to her church, the Monticello United Methodist Church. Memorials may be made to Kirby Medical Center.