Donna Howell. Class of 1977. United States Air Force (USAF) Major (RET) Donna Marie Howell was born on September 11, 1959 in St. Louis, Missouri and passed away on September 17, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada after a courageous and valiant battle with bone marrow cancer and leukemia. She was the daughter of Marie and USAF Chief Master Sergeant (RET) Rufus Cletus "Dan" Howell III of Mary Esther, Florida. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her maternal grandparents, Francesca and Gaetano Indelicato of Mary Esther, and paternal grandparents Mamie Kennedy and Rufus Cletus Howell II of Henderson, Tennessee. Donna graduated from Fort Walton Beach High School in 1977, earned a BA Degree in Business from Florida State University in 1988 and subsequently obtained a Master's Degree in Higher Education. She was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Air Force. Donna was an Air Battle Manager/Mission Commander on the USAF Air-Borne Warning and Control System (AWACS) and was stationed throughout the United States, Europe and Asia until she retired at the rank of Major and lived in Panama City, Florida; then moved to Las Vegas. She is survived by her husband of 25 years, Omar Koerdell of Las Vegas, sister-in-law Dora Koerdell of Guadalajara, Mexico, sister USAF LTC (RET) Dr. Lisa Howell also of Las Vegas, sister Robin Ward (Michael) of Sylvan Grove, Kansas, brother Mark Howell (Lori) of Raleigh, North Carolina by way of Los Angeles, California, brother USAF Major (RET) Michael Howell (Jill) of Mary Esther, FL, niece Lacie Deziel of McPherson, KS, nephew Tyler Howell of San Diego, CA, nephew Jonathan Howell of Santa Monica, CA, nephew Christopher Struck of New York City, NY, nephew Nick Howell of Charleston, South Carolina, niece Grace Howell of Tampa, FL, nephew Thomas Howell of Mary Esther, FL along with nephew Dashun Jackson of Las Vegas. Donna had an extended loving family both on her maternal (Indelicato) and paternal (Howell) side who included multiple Aunts, Uncles and Cousins; many of whom were beside her until she passed. Her family fondly remembers her for her kindness and thoughtfulness; she was a life force like no other and a blessing never to be forgotten. She enjoyed cruising the world with her husband and sister, loved singing and sports, especially her FSU football. There's one more angel in Heaven saying, "Go Noles!" Donna will be interred at a later date in the Jesse Rogers Memorial Cemetery in Mary Esther, FL.