Vera M. "Grandma Buddy" Howard was born April 25, 1934, in Goodman, Missouri, one of seven children to Wesley and Martha (Boman) Charlton. She entered into rest on March 19, 2023, at McDonald County Living Center in Anderson, at the age of 88. Vera was a lifelong area resident and graduated from Goodman High School. She worked in the Couples Department of Eagle Picher for many years and then owned and operated a kennel with her husband, Francis. Vera enjoyed crocheting, gardening, fishing and watching Cardinal's baseball. She deeply loved her family, especially her grandchildren, and spending time with them. She was a member of Faith Assembly of God Church in Joplin. On September 1, 1951, in Goodman, Missouri, Vera and Francis E. Howard were united in marriage and he preceded her in death on July 24, 2020. She is survived by five children, Marcy Crawmer and husband, Jim of Neosho, Rita Kittell of Bowling Green, Kentucky, Leonard Howard and wife, Carol of Miami, Oklahoma, Joyce Davis and husband, Steve of Goodman and Cheryl Peters and husband, Dan of Neosho; one sister, Joyce Hall of Eufaula, Oklahoma, one brother, Gerald Charlton of Glenside, Pennsylvania; fourteen grandchildren, thirty-three great grandchildren and seven great-great grandchildren. In addition to her husband and parents, she is preceded in death by a granddaughter, Heather Dawn Crawmer; three brothers, Ernest, Eldon and John W. Charlton and a sister, Jeannean Charlton Walker.