Howell E Lancaster

 Howell E. Lancaster, Jr, age 73, of Trenton, FL, passed away on May 18, 2022, at the UF Health Shands Hospital in Gainesville. Howell was born on June 18, 1948, in Gainesville, to Howell E. Sr. and Virginia Deen Lancaster. He was a lifelong resident of Gilchrist County and a 1966 graduate of Trenton High School. Soon after graduating, he went to the University of Florida where he obtained a bachelor’s degree in Food and Resource Economics. Howell was the owner of Lancaster Oil Co. Inc., a land developer and a watermelon farmer for many years. He took a job with the Department of Corrections before finally retiring in 2011. He was an active citizen of Gilchrist County who helped found the Education Foundation of Gilchrist County as well as their annual Beast Feast; past president of the Gilchrist County Chamber of Commerce; recipient of Gilchrist County Cattleman of the Year; Gilchrist County Citizen of the Year; annual contributor for 50 years to the Suwannee River Livestock Fair; member of the Trenton Quarterback Club; and attended Cherry Sink Church of Christ. He was also a Gator Booster; former member of the Gainesville Quarterback Club; former board member at Farmers and Merchants Bank as well as Capital City Bank; and a member of Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity. Howell enjoyed hunting, fishing, cooking, eating, traveling, being on the Suwannee river with his family and friends, and all Gator sporting events. He is preceded in death by his parents, and his sisters, Linda L. Parrish and Margaret Lancaster.

Howell is survived by his wife,  Sheree H. Lancaster of Trenton; sons, Deen (Lena) Lancaster of Trenton and  Trip (Leah) Lancaster of Fanning Springs; daughter, Franne Langford of Trenton; grandchildren to whom he was Big Daddy, Matthew (Jessica), Major, Mariah, and  Landon Lancaster, Lauren Roberts, and Caroline Martin; a granddaughter to whom he was “BB”, Bryn Lancaster; mother in law, Margaret Hiers of Chiefland; brother in law, Allan Parrish of Windermere, FL; sister in law, Sylvia Hiers (Robbie Emmons) of Trenton; nephew, Doug Parrish of Windermere, FL; numerous extended family also survive.