"I met Sterling in 2013 at an iris tour of his garden in Roann, IN. It was the most beautiful iris garden, carefully tended and packed with historic as well as cutting edge iris. His collection was unique and contained all the Dykes Medal winners. This prestigious award, bestowed annually by the American Iris Society since 1927, is awarded to the top iris hybridized in the United States. Sterling had every single Dykes Medal winner in his collection. An amazing feat and probably the only collection of its kind in Indiana, the Midwest, or really anyplace except Schreiner's in Oregon. Phenomenal and so special. But that was Sterling. He moved his garden to Muncie and continued his passion, inviting friends to visit each May. He was an animal lover and we enjoyed meeting his fantastic dog Bear. He loved old movies and enjoyed sharing anecdotes of his time in California. A man of many talents, Sterling was a gentleman and a scholar, and I was blessed to have met him in the garden. "
In loving memory of
Sterling "Tracy" Howard
August 28, 1937 - November 9, 2021
On November 9, 2021 Sterling T. "Tracy" Howard, 84, of Fairmount answered his mother's call to come be with her in heaven.
Sterling Tracy was born on August 28, 1937 in Winchester, KY, to the late Sterling Howard and Myrtle Howard (Johnson).
He moved with his family to Indiana in the early 1940's. Tracy attended and graduated from Peru High School in Indiana in the top 3 of his class in 1955. He joined the United States Army in August of 1959. He served in Korea and Japan, returning home in July of 1965 to Warsaw, Indiana. He belonged to the First Baptist Church in Peru. He worked as a bank teller at Lake City and 1st National Bank in Warsaw. He went to California for 3 years and returned to Peru after the earthquake of 1971. Sterling was a Post Master in Indianapolis for twenty-five years.
Sterling never met a flower he didn't love. He always had a huge garden of flowers. He belonged to the Indiana Iris Growers of Eastern Indiana. He had every Dyker's medal winner that could be found. He always had to have the newest Iris that came out. He won many medals for his collection of Irises.
Sterling also enjoyed line dancing, roller skating in his younger years, collecting music, movies and books. He created and painted senior cards for family and friends.
Tracy was survived by his siblings, Shirley Melton, Wabash; Arthur Howard, Muncie; Richard (Kathy) Howard, Fairmount; and his sister-in-laws Mary Howard and Alice Howard. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews, and his beloved dog, Tipsey.
Tracy was preceded in death by his parents, and siblings, Agnes (Dave) Griggs, Amboy; James (Jane) Howard, Peru; Gene (Jim) Brown, Peru; Omer (Beulah) Howard, Warsaw; William (Hannah) Howard, Peru; and Vernon (Mary) Howard, Ft. Wayne.
Services for Tracy will be at Armes-Hunt Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 415 South Main Street, Fairmount, Indiana on Saturday, November 13, 2021 at 12:00 PM with visitation beginning at 10:00am, until time of service. Burial with take place at Bond Cemetery in Amboy, Indiana
Memorial contributions may be made to the Indiana Iris Growers of Eastern Indiana with envelopes available to the funeral home.
Memories and condolences may be shared at www.armeshuntfunealhome.com
Tributes
"My uncle was a wonderful man. He affected and saved many lives throughout his career in the military and later as a postal worker (He once witnessed a man crash his motorcycle at night and saved his life by using his empty mailbag as a pillow for the man, creating a tourniquet for his broken leg, then comforting him until the ambulance arrived). Tracy once told me that he was the mailman for musician Alice Cooper and when I met Alice last month, confirmed the story and told me to wish Sterling well.
Tracy was a massive fan of music and movies and would often send me copies of his favorites, many of which soon became mine as well.
It's broken my heart to see my uncle suffer for these past few months, but I can't help but feel happiness knowing that he's finally pain free and perfect.
Tracy will be forever missed and I certainly know that I'll never forget him.
I love you uncle Tracy. Rest well and know that Tipsy is safe and well taken care of. ??"
"Rick, Shirley, Art and families, I was so sorry to hear of Tracy's passing. My condolences to the families. "