Melinda Gale Howard

Melinda Gale Howard, age 49, passed away on March 31st, 2025, in Jacksonville, Florida, after a fierce and courageous battle with stage 4 pancreatic cancer.

She was born on September 15th, 1975, to Gloria Sue Howard and Dale Howard. Melinda grew up in Indiana, where she graduated from Logansport High School in 1993. She later earned her nursing degree from Ivy Tech Community College, becoming a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN). Melinda was previously married to Daniel Jason Crowe, with whom she had her first son, Yugi Gage Crowe.

Melinda dedicated much of her life to helping others, working most recently at Patriot Health and Rehabilitation Center in Paris, Tennessee. There, she cared for the elderly with compassion, kindness, and humanity — embodying her nurturing spirit and selflessness. Patriot Health was the last place she worked before her cancer diagnosis.

As a Christian woman, Melinda had a deep and personal faith in the Lord and Jesus Christ. She was a member of East Pointe Church in Jacksonville, Florida, where her beliefs gave her great strength, comfort, and peace throughout her life.

Melinda loved reading and cherished her vast collection of books, always dreaming of owning a personal library someday. She enjoyed timeless classics like The Wizard of Oz and Gone with the Wind, and mystery shows like Murder, She Wrote and Matlock. She carried herself with timeless elegance and had a creative soul, taking great pride in her appearance and artistic nature. Melinda also had a growing interest in hobbies like knitting, hydroponics, and gardening — always eager to learn something new, even if life didn’t give her the time to do it all.

Melinda will be remembered for her incredible strength and resilience through all of life’s adversities — enduring hardships that would have broken the average person. She was the true definition of a fighter, a lover, and a nurturer. Her unwavering love for her family, especially her three children, defined her life. Even when she had every reason to put herself first, she chose to sacrifice and love without hesitation. Her infectious laugh, her beautiful and compassionate way of speaking, and her deep concern for the betterment of humanity will be missed beyond words.

Melinda is survived by her three beloved children: Yugi Gage Crowe, Brayden Scott Howard, and Isabella Scarlett Howard; her parents, Gloria Sue Howard and Dale Howard; and her three sisters: Tammy Burch, Michelle Howard, and Angela Howard Hamilton.

She was cremated on April 7th, 2025, one week after her passing. A Celebration of Life will be held at France Park in Logansport, Indiana on May 10th from 11AM until sunset — a location filled with treasured memories from her childhood through motherhood. This will be an all-day event, with separate invitations sent out ahead of time.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you spend quality time with the people you love. Cherish each day together, practice forgiveness, listen to each other with understanding, and accept each other's differences with an open heart. Love unconditionally, just as Melinda did.

A GoFundMe account has been created to help with service costs, provide comfort and support to her three children as they grieve and rebuild, and donate 10% of all proceeds to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN) in Melinda’s memory.

Donations can be made at gofundme.com/f/melinda-howard