William Eugene "Gene" Howard, age 76, of Sherman, Texas, passed away January 3, 2008 in Sherman. He was born July 30, 1931, in Randolph, Texas, the son of Samuel Jefferson and Marcella (Owens) Howard. He played basketball for Sherman High School and on September 5, 1953, he married Joanne Joiner in Sherman. Mr. Howard was an avid member of the Texas National Guard serving in the 49th Armored Division in Sherman. He was a volunteer fireman in Roscoe, Texas and was an avid golfer and sports enthusiast. Mr. Howard was a member of the First Baptist Church in McKinney and was a former member of Prairie Creek Baptist Church where he was a deacon. He was a real estate agent and custom home builder in Plano. He is survived by his wife of fifty-four years, Joanne; daughters, Heather Orr and her husband Joe of McKinney and Holley Dean and her husband Jeff of Sunset, TX; grandchildren, Clint Smith, Chase and Chea Pajak, Logan McLoud, Chandler and Karlyn Dean; brothers, Earl,Chuck, Larry and Jerry Howard; sister, Georgia Parker; and numerous nieces, nephews and other loving relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents. Funeral services will be held at 4:00 PM, Sunday, January 6, 2008 at Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Chapel with Rev. Bob Ross and Rev. Randy Morlan officiating. Interment will follow at Ridgeview Memorial Park. The family will receive friends during a visitation at Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Funeral Home on Saturday evening beginning at 4:00 PM.