Norman Dale Howard, 49, of Athens, died Wednesday, April 1, 2009, at Kindred Hospital in Chattanooga.

A native and lifelong resident of McMinn County, he was of the Baptist faith, and was preceded in death by his father, Hugh Victor Landon Howard; one infant sister, Rhonda Faye Howard; his maternal grandparents, Gus and Sylvia Dennis; and his paternal grandparents, Ruth and Hardin Howard. He was a former employee of Wayne\'s Batteries.

Survivors include his mother, Mary Alice Hyde of Athens; three brothers and two sisters-in-law, Randy Hyde, Dennis and Belinda Howard and Victor and Juanita Howard, all of Athens; two sisters and one brother-in-law, Sandra and Michael Nipper of Knoxville, and Patricia Shelton of Athens; special friends, Junior, Lisa and Amber Shelton, all of Athens; and several nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, great-nieces and great-nephews.

Funeral services will be 8 p.m. Friday in the chapel of Laycock-Hobbs Funeral Home with the Rev. Howard White officiating. Burial will be 11 a.m. Saturday in Clearwater Cemetery.

Active pallbearers will be Calvin Wattenbarger, Matthew Wattenbarger, Tylor Wattenbarger, Jeremiah Shelton, Jamie Shelton and Junior Shelton.

The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Norman Dale Howard Memorial Fund, c/o Mary Alice Hyde, 384 County Road 105, Athens, TN 37303.

Those not able to attend may send condolences to mailto:condolences@laycock-hobbs.com