Mr. Gale "Pappy" Dean Howell, age 78, of West Jefferson died Saturday night, August 2, 2014 at Watauga Medical Center. A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, August 5, 2014 at 2:00 P.M. at Bethany United Methodist Church with Rev. Owen Peeler officiating. The family will receive friends on Tuesday, August 5, 2014 at 1:00 P.M. until 2:00 P.M. at Bethany United Methodist Church Prior to the memorial service. Mr. Howell was born in Ashe County on August 31, 1935 to the late Fred Newton Howell and Virginia Dare Howell. He was a master woodworker. A Past Master Forsyth Masonic Lodge 707 AF/AM, Charter member of Old Town Masonic Lodge 751 AF/AM, and member of Ashe Masonic Lodge 594 AF/AM. He was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather. His family came second only to God. He was also preceded in death by a grandson, Gale "Trey" Howell III. Mr. Howell is survived by his wife, Elinor Howell; two sons; Gale D. "Butch" Howell, Jr. and wife Maggie of West Jefferson, and Mark T. Howell and wife Lisa of Winston-Salem; four grandchildren; Candace Howell Shamblin and husband Jay of Germanton, NC, Dustin C. Howell of Vero Beach, FL, Michael T. Howell of the home, Michelle Brooks of West Jefferson; five great-grandchildren; Anthony Howell of Boone, Nickolas "Nick" Lyons of Boone, Irelynn E. Shamblin of Germanton, NC, Trae Shamblin of Germanton, NC, and Quinton Shamblin , of Germanton, NC; special friends; Lewell Gentry of Yadkinville, NC and Skip Ireson of West Jefferson also survive. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Ashe Masonic Lodge #594, C/o Jeff Jones, PO Box 1911, West Jefferson, NC 28694 or to Bethany United Methodist Church Cemetery Fund, C/O Job Hopkins, 924 Black Bear Inn Road, West Jefferson, NC 28694 You may give the family your condolences at our website www.boonefuneralhome.com. Boone Family Funeral Home of West Jefferson is in charge of these arrangements.