Marlene (Marty) Flora Howard, 81, of Cape Coral, Florida, passed away peacefully on February 18th, 2026, after a brief illness.

Born Marlene Diana Flora on October 3rd, 1944, to Mary Ruth Evans and Donald Dale Flora, in Highland Park Michigan, she graduated in 1962 from McEvoy High School in Macon, Georgia.

Marlene married her high school sweetheart, Jeffrey Dale Howard, on January 1st, 1963, in Aiken, South Carolina. Their son, Jay Thomas Howard, was born November 24th, 1969, in Charleston, South Carolina. They divorced in 1975.

She worked various jobs early in her career, most notably as Manager and District Supervisor for 7-11, where she met the love of her life, Myrtle Irene Reitelbach. Marlene, Myrtle and Jay moved from Virginia to Lehigh Acres, Florida in 1981.

Inspired to serve by her own journey in recovery, Marlene enrolled in the inaugural graduating class at Florida Gulf Coast University, where she received a Bachelor of Arts degree on May 6th, 2000, and worked as a Certified Addiction Counselor for Southwest Florida Addiction Services in Ft. Myers, Florida.

She loved traveling, reading, and keeping up with current events. She was politically active and supported many causes, especially women’s rights.

Marlene was preceded in death by her partner of 30 years Myrtle, her brother Donald, and her sisters Lorelei and Donna. She is survived by her son Jay, daughter in law Vicky, sister Elaine and brother Fred, her grandson Vinnie and great-grandson Wraith, her nephews David, Steve, Trey and Alex, and nieces Rebecca and Vicki and their spouses and children.

As per her wishes, Marlene will be cremated, and a celebration of her life will be held at the home of Jay and Vicky on a yet to be determined date.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her honor to her favorite charity, St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, stjudes.org/donate.