Obituary: Merle Howes, Former State 4-H Leader, Professor Emeritus of Consumer Studies

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Merle Howes
Merle Howes

Merle L. Howes, 93, of Amherst, a former director of the state 4-H program and professor emeritus of consumer studies, died May 8.  

Born on Aug. 14, 1924 in Laytonsville, Maryland, he graduated from Gaithersburg High School in 1942 and served in the Army Chemical Warfare Service in England during World War II. He also served briefly in the Army of Occupation in Germany at the end of the war.

He graduated from Kansas State University in 1950 with a degree in agriculture education and returned to Maryland to work at the University of Maryland’s Extension Service as a county agent. He completed his master’s degree in education there in 1952.       

In 1956, he joined UMass Amherst as assistant director of the Cooperative Extension Service and director of the state 4-H program. Under his leadership, 4-H increased in membership and projects that were adapted to both urban and rural youth. He gave particular attention to expanding the role of the Massachusetts 4-H Foundation in program financing and the recognition of 4-H members and volunteer leaders. He served on many regional and national 4-H program development committees and was a trustee of the National 4-H Foundation in Washington, D.C.                                                          

In the early 1960s, he took time from Cooperative Extension to earn a Ph.D. in agricultural and life sciences from the University of Wisconsin, which was awarded in 1963. After 24 years in Cooperative Extension, he became a professor and acting head of the department of consumer studies in 1980. He retired as professor emeritus in 1987.                  

After retirement, he continued his support for extension service, and he became engaged in research about the system of land-grant colleges and universities in the U.S.

He was an elected member of the Amherst Board of Selectmen from 1965-75. In the 1980s, he co-chaired the renovation project for the Amherst-Pelham Regional High School and chaired the site selection committee for the Amherst police station.

He was a trustee of South Congregational Church.

His wife, the former Billie M. Clow, died in February. He is survived by his three children: Ray Howes of Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, LaVerna Howes Albury of Lawrenceville, New Jersey, and Pamela Howes of Amherst.

Calling hours at the Douglass Funeral Services in Amherst will be Thursday, May 24 from 3-5 p.m. The funeral service will be at South Congregational Church in Amherst at 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 26. Interment will be private.                                                

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Massachusetts 4-H Foundation, 1671 Worcester Road, Suite #403, Framingham 01701, www.mass4hfoundation.org